Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong has been dropped from the Netherlands squad for the upcoming matches against Moldova and Sweden.

De Jong was involved in a tackle which which left Hatem Ben Arfa with a double leg-break during City's 2-1 Premier League win over Newcastle on Sunday.

Netherlands coach Bert Van Marwijk told the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper: "It was a wild and unnecessary offence.

"I have a problem with the way Nigel needlessly looks to push the limit."

>>BBC Sport.

The merits of your opinion on de Jong's challenge aside, I do find the decision a strange one. Has van Marwijk taken this decision based on the Sunday's challenge in isolation or by totting up previous infractions; committed on international duty and, of course, did not merit discipline from van Marwijk.

Post-World Cup, the Dutch received plenty of criticism, particularly at home, over the style of play that was adopted. Whilst effective in terms of results, it was considered as going against the traditions of Oranje, and this move smacks a little of paying lip service to those critics and van Marwijk attempting to cleanse their (and his) reputation.