Doha: FIFA reportedly sent home Spanish referee Antonio Mathieu Lahoz, who was involved in the yellow card ‘play’ controversy in the Argentina-Netherlands match. Players from both teams stepped up against his approach to the game. With games late in the quarter, FIFA made do with the services of a few referees. The controversial referee was also involved in this. Meanwhile, there are indications that he has nothing to do with the Argentina-Netherlands match or criticism of Messi.
There were fears that Argentine players, including captain Lionel Messi, would be banned by FIFA for misbehavior and criticizing the referee, and Messi would miss out on the semi-final decider with Croatia.
Antonio Mathieu Lahoz, who controlled the match in the fierce Netherlands-Argentina match at the World Cup, showed eight Argentine and six Dutch players yellow cards. After the penalties, Dutchman Denzel Dumfries was sent off by Lahos with a second yellow card.
Not only the players but also the coaching staff received yellow cards. A total of 18 yellow cards were issued. This is the all-time World Cup record. Among those given the card will also be Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni. Argentina captain Lionel Messi spoke out against the referee several times. After the match, Messi and goalkeeper Emi Martinez publicly confronted the referee.
Messi’s response was that Lahos shouldn’t have been given the job of booing the Lusail game. “I don’t want to talk about the referee. After I say that, they will come with a reprimand. Otherwise the ban will fall. People saw what happened. FIFA should reconsider this. If they don’t do it right, don’t give a referee Like this control of such an important match” Messi said.
