Fuming Messi Slams Referee Lahoz Following Card-Happy Display In Netherlands-Argentina World Cup Quarter-Final

Lionel Messi criticized referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz for issuing a record 18 yellow cards during Argentina’s match against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.

The irate Argentina captain claimed that the Spanish referee was not qualified to officiate games on a stage as significant as the World Cup semifinals. After the final whistle, Lahoz issued a red card to Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries, setting a record for the most yellow cards ever shown.

Messi stated the following to reporters after the game: “I don’t want to talk about the referee because you can’t be honest. If you talk they sanction you, FIFA must think about it, they can’t put a referee like that for these instances, they can’t put a referee who isn’t up to the task.”

Interestingly, the Netherlands took part in the match that previously held the record for the most cautions issued in a World Cup game. The infamous “Battle of Nuremberg” last-16 match between Portugal and the Netherlands at the 2006 World Cup featured 16 yellow cards.

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Meanwhile, despite Argentina having come out on the right side on the ledger, the shot-stopper Martinez also criticized the referee during his post-match interview, accusing “useless” Lahoz of favouritism towards the Dutch.

“The ref was just giving everything for them,” said Martinez. “All of a sudden they get a good header, a good flick, which I couldn’t see and then it just turned upside down.

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“The ref was giving everything for them. He gave 10 minutes [added time] for no reason. He was giving free-kicks outside the box for them, like two, three times.

“He just wanted them to score, that’s basically it. So, hopefully we don’t have him that ref anymore. 

“He’s useless.”

In the semi-final on December 13, Lionel Scaloni’s team will play Croatia.

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