Lionel Messi called on FIFA to drop Mateu Lahoz from the top level after he lost the run of it and dished out NINETEEN yellow cards in Argentina's World Cup quarter-final with the Netherlands. And Argentine keeper Emiliano Martinez branded him "useless" after breaking records for all the wrong reasons.
Lahoz is a well known name to fans in Scotland as Ally McCoist famously tore into him on commentary after he chalked off Ryan Kent's goal for Rangers against Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League last season. He also sent off James Sands against Napoli earlier this year and earlier presided over Celtic's 3-0 defeat to Zenit St Petersburg, booking Moussa Dembele and Eboue Kouassi in Russia.
The Spaniard has been known to clash with Messi in La Liga and speaking after his side won on penalties to reach the last four, Messi tried to bite his tongue - but called on FIFA to take action. Messi said: “I don’t want to talk about referees because then they will sanction you. But we were scared before the game because we knew what was coming with him.
“I can’t say what I think but FIFA have to look at this. They cannot put a referee like that on this game when he is not up to the level.”
Speaking on BT Sport, McCoist branded Lahoz "absolutely diabolical" and "staggering" and it was a similar sentiment on Friday night as Gary Lineker tweeted comparing him to card-happy Englishman Mike Dean. The critics didn't stop there either as Aston Villa keeper Martinez said: “The ref was giving everything to them. He gave 10 minutes added time for no reason, 10 minutes.
“He was giving free-kicks outside the box for them two or three times – he just wanted them to score, that’s basically it. So hopefully we don’t have that referee anymore because he’s useless.
“Crazy, the worst referee of the tournament, he is arrogant. You say something to him and he talks back to you badly. I think since Spain went out he wanted us to go out as well.”
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