De Jong''s sliding tackle slammed into Newcastle United midfielder Ben Arfa's standing left leg in City's 2-1 Premier League victory on Sunday, leaving the Frenchman with a double break requiring surgery.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini gave his backing to midfielder Nigel de Jong on Tuesday after the Dutch international was dropped by his country over a tackle that broke Hatem Ben Arfa's leg.
De Jong''s sliding tackle slammed into Newcastle United midfielder Ben Arfa's standing left leg in City's 2-1 Premier League victory on Sunday, leaving the Frenchman with a double break requiring surgery.
The next day with De Jong having already travelled to the Netherlands, national coach Bert van Marwijk removed the 25-year-old from his squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Moldova on Friday and Sweden four days later.
"As his club manager I wish to say that whilst he is naturally competitive, Nigel is first and foremost a great player as well as being honest and loyal and I support him wholeheartedly," Mancini told the club website (www.mcfc.com).
De Jong attracted criticism in July's World Cup final for kicking Spain''s Xabi Alonso in the chest. The challenge earned him only a yellow card but English referee Howard Webb later said he wished he had shown a red instead.
De Jong's was not the only challenge to come under the spotlight at the weekend with Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Karl Henry shown a red card for a late lunge that sent Wigan Athletic's Jordi Gomez cartwheeling along the field on Saturday.
Henry apologised on Tuesday, saying he had deserved to be sent off in the 11th minute of the match which Wigan won 2-0.
"Having watched it again I can see that it looks horrific," he said on the club website (www.wolves.co.uk). "I have already apologised to the manager ... and the boys but I''d also like to apologise to the supporters."
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