I did not favour my neighbour Kuyt, insists Champions League referee
Dutch referee Pieter Vink has insisted that his failure to give Arsenal a penalty in their Champions League tie with Liverpool had nothing to do with him being a neighbour of Reds forward Dirk Kuyt.
The Gunners were convinced they should have been awarded a spot-kick when Kuyt appeared to foul Alexander Hleb in the second-half of the tie at The Emirates, but Vink waved away their appeals.
Flashpoint: Kuyt tugs back Hleb during the Champions League quarter-final
Later Kuyt revealed he came from the same town as Vink and had known the referee for a number of years.
But the official said: 'It's ridiculous to say I made the decision because I'm Dutch.
"There are many nationalities playing in every team nowadays — Spanish, French, Italians, Brazilians — and it's not an issue. It's a completely ludicrous suggestion."
And Kuyt was quick to point out that Arsenal had their own Dutchman in their side.
He said: "Robin van Persie used to play for Feyenoord before joining Arsenal and he'll know Pieter Vink just as well.
"So it is wrong to say the ref did me a favour on Wednesday night just because he knows me.
"I think the penalty decision was right.
"It was a close call because I did touch Hleb. But I never pulled his shirt and I don't think he deserved a penalty."
UEFA rules state he is not allowed to comment on the penalty incident but he told The Sun: "I haven't seen it again but I will look at it on DVD.
"If it was a game in Holland then I would admit it if I made a mistake.
"All I will say is that it was a great atmosphere with two good teams and I didn't have any problem handling this match."
But FIFA refereeing advisor Mario van der Ende has told Vink he got it wrong, adding: "When you are an official at this level you know you have to get it right — and he didn't.
"My colleagues, journalists and Guus Hiddink, who saw it numerous times, all said that it was a 100 per cent penalty.
"Being a referee is the same as someone walking the high wire without a safety net — and in that environment only the best will survive."
