WC finalists fined by Fifa

Soccer: Fifa have fined both Holland and Spain for poor discipline during the World Cup final.

Soccer:Fifa have fined both Holland and Spain for poor discipline during the World Cup final.

In a tempestuous encounter in the showpiece final in July, referee Howard Webb handed out eight yellow cards and a red to Holland's players and five yellows to Spain.

Spain won the match 1-0 in extra-time to lift the trophy in Johannesburg, but it was marred by some disgraceful challenges, most notably Dutch midfielder Nigel De Jong's high kick into the chest of Xabi Alonso in the first half.

The Dutch have received a €10,900 fine for their conduct in the match, which saw Johnny Heitinga sent off in extra-time for a second bookable offence.

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The Spanish received a €7,300 charge, due to Fifa's disciplinary code having a clause on team misconduct calling for a federation to be fined when at least five of its players are sanctioned in a match.

However, Fifa awarded Spain €22.6 million in prize money for winning the tournament and the Netherlands were given €18.1million as runners-up.

The match set a record for most cards received in a World Cup final, beating the six yellows shown when Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in the 1986 final.

The final was also the worst behaved of the 64 matches played in South Africa. Chile and Switzerland players combined for nine yellows and a straight red card in a group stage game.