FIFA fine Spain & Netherlands £6,000 & £9,000 respectively for poor discipline during World Cup 2010 final

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Both federations fined for overly physical style of play in tournament showpiece...

FIFA have fined Spain and Netherlands for their players' poor behaviour during the final of the World Cup 2010.

The game at Soccer City in Johannesburg was marked for the unusually high number of cards shown, with referee Howard Webb brandishing a total of 14 cards to both sides, including a second booking and subsequent dismissal for Dutch defender John Heitinga.

The Spaniards went on to win the first World Cup in their history by beating their opponents 1-0, as both sides - and in particular the Netherlands - received criticism from pundits worldwide for their overly physical style of play.

Now FIFA has decided to impose a fine on the two nations for their behaviour on the pitch, by slapping the Spanish football federation with a £6,000 fine while their Oranje counterparts have to cough up £9,000 for their misdemeanours.

According to the disciplinary code of conduct enforced by FIFA, there exists a clause in which a football federation can be fined if five or more of the team's players are booked in a particular game.

Spain eventually won the final 1-0 following a late goal from Andres Iniesta to be crowned the champions of the world