FIFA World Cup 2022: Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz ‘Sent Home’ After Lionel Messi Criticised Him

Following criticism from Lionel Messi, referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz will not officiate in any other match of FIFA World Cup 2022.

Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz shows a yellow card to Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi during the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Netherlands and Argentina at Lusail Stadium, north of Doha, on December 9, 2022.

Source : Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

Recent reports from the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar claim that the on-field referee for the second quarterfinal match between Netherlands and Argentina, Antonio Mateu Lahoz, has been "sent home" following criticism from Lionel Messi. Even as Argentina managed to proceed to the semifinals of FIFA World Cup 2022 after beating Netherlands in the penalty shootout, Messi wasn't pleased with his officiating. 

Notably, Lahoz showed a record 17 yellow cards in that fixture, even issuing a red card to Denzel Demfries. Post the game, Messi stated that it was apprehension of getting penalised that stops him from criticisng the referees. However, he indirectly took a dig at the Spanish match official by saying that people saw what happened, even demanding an intervention from FIFA suggesting that such referees should not be in charge of important matches. 

"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," Messi was quoted as saying by Goal.

"We were scared before the game because we knew what was coming [with Mateu Lahoz]," he said in the same interview.

Messi could be banned for semifinal match against Croatia?

Following Messi's statement, the world football governing body initiated disciplinary action against Messi. This has led to widespread speculations over his availability for the match against Croatia since he could face a ban.

However, if FIFA finds that he hasn't breached any rules, he could be left off with a warning. Messi missing out on the knockout match will be the last thing that Argentina would want at this stage, with Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel already facing a suspension.

FIFA World Cup 2022 semi-final between Argentina and Croatia will kick off at 12:30 am (IST) on December 14.