Soccer Extreme : Ex-Hamburg manager Huub Stevens reveals Rafael's trick : Former Hamburg manager Huub Stevens has revealed that Dutch star Rafael Van der Vaart once deliberately got booked so he could go and party with his wife.The incident is one of many revelations brought to light in Stevens' new book – and will most likely embarrass the midfield maestro, who now plays for Real Madrid.
His former manager claims that in the 28th league game of the 2007/2008 season, Hamburg lost at home to Duisburg.
Before the match had begun, Stevens said to his assistant: “Van der Vaart will deliberately pick up a fifth yellow card. His wife is celebrating her 30th birthday and he wants to be there.”
Stevens was right. Van der Vaart kicked the ball away after the referee had blown the whistle and duly earnt a yellow card.
Sylvie Van der Vaart