ENGLAND’S WORLD CUP final referee Howard Webb and GAA whistleblower Martin Sludden have both received death threats after less-than-satisfactory performances at the weekend.

Webb was roundly booed by fans from all sides when collecting his medal after the World Cup final, having booked 14 players and sent off the Netherlands’ Johnny Heitinga – a record card tally for a final.

Webb has since received poison pen letters from angered Dutch fans who blame Webb for their team’s defeat – prompting the British Referee’s Association to leap to his defence.

“We all want to see matches that are freeflowing and entertaining,” said a spokesman. “It was not Howard’s fault that this one was tempestuous and ugly.”

Webb has admitted to friends that Sunday night was “the most difficult two hours of my career,” according to the Daily Mail.

Sludden, meanwhile, has repeated faced the ire of Louth supporters on Facebook who have issued threats of their own over Facebook.

“Martin Sludden. What a guy! The punches yesterday were well deserved, you fat ****”, wrote one fan.