Argentina-Netherlands played, Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martinez and Vout Veghorst were discussed.
However, referee Antonio Mateo Lahoz set a World Cup record in the tiebreaker match. The Spanish referee showed a total of 18 cards in the quarter-final match. This is the highest number of cards shown in a single match in World Cup history. Earlier, 16 cards were shown in the Portugal-Netherlands match at the 2006 World Cup.
The Argentina-Netherlands match at Lucille Stadium featured 16 player cards. Argentina players 8, Netherlands players 8. In between, Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries received a second yellow card after the tiebreaker. The remaining two yellow cards were shown to Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and his assistant Walter Samuel.
Argentinian captain Messi and goalkeeper Amy Martinez strongly criticized Lahoz's refereeing after the match. In his comments, Messi asked FIFA to 'not give such referees responsibility in big matches'. And after 90 minutes of play, he was labeled a 'scumbag' by goalkeeper Martinez due to controversial decisions including extra time (10 minutes), occasional fouls (48 in total).
However, this is not the first bitter experience of Messi and Argentina with Lahoz.
Who is this referee?
Lahoz, 45, started professional refereeing in 2008. After four years officiating matches in the second division of Spanish football, he began refereeing in La Liga from 2012 and the UEFA Champions League from 2013. He managed the match for the first time in the World Cup in 2018. Before the Argentina-Netherlands match in this World Cup, the flute was also in his hand in the United States-Iran and Qatar-Senegal matches.
In total, he has experience of refereeing 498 matches in his professional career. 2 thousand 326 yellow cards were shown in these matches, 55 red cards; And gave 119 penalties. He also announced his retirement after Euro 2020. However, he returned to the field at the end of last year.
Argentina was already worried
Argentine fans were worried about Lahoz after FIFA published the list of referees. Argentina have suffered in the matches he has managed before. Lahoz was the referee of the Argentina-Honduras match in the group stage of the 2016 Rio Olympics. The referee awarded three penalties in the match, two of which were against Argentina. Honduras went ahead by scoring one of them. In the end, the match ended with a 1-1 draw, but Argentina was eliminated from the competition.
Messi also showed the card
Argentine legend Diego Maradona passed away on 25 November 2020. Five days later, Messi paid him a 'tribute' by scoring against Osasuna in La Liga. After the goal, he took off his Barcelona jersey, inside was Maradona's Newell's Old Boys jersey. The scene was quite emotional but Lahoz showed Messi a yellow card for opening his jersey. Lahoz was criticized at the time for showing the yellow card, even though it was within the rules and was harsh given the occasion.
Trouble with Aguero-Guardiola
Manchester City fans should remember Lahoz very well. Sergio Aguero was shown a yellow card by Lahoz against Monaco in the last 16 of the 2017 Champions League. However, as replays showed, Aguero was instead sent off.
The following year, in City's exit to Liverpool, Lahoz showed a red card to Pep Guardiola in the dugout. A Leroy Sane goal in the match was also ruled out for offside, although replays showed it was legal.
City fans were outraged after Lahoj was named to referee the Manchester City-Club Brugge match in the Champions League last year. As one tweeted, 'He came out of retirement to send City off.'
Fans of Argentina and the Netherlands can now say something close.