Lionel Messi gets his wish as Argentina-Netherlands referee Mateu Lahoz, who handed out 18 yellow cards during the game, is left out of the World Cup

The referee who officiated in Argentina’s angry World Cup victory over the Netherlands will not be involved in any further Qatar 2022 games.

Mateu Lahoz handed out 18 yellow cards in the quarter-final clash which Argentina won on penalties after the two teams played out to a thrilling 2-2 draw in 90 minutes.

But the match will forever be remembered for the chaotic scenes during and after the match with tempers boiling over on several occasions.

Lahoz was heavily criticized for his performance, including from Lionel Messi, who suggested the Spaniard was unfit to referee a match of this magnitude.

Messi said: “I don’t want to talk about the referees because afterwards they will penalize you. But people saw what happened.

“I think FIFA has to deal with it, they can’t put a referee like that for a game of such magnitude, such importance. The referee can’t fail to live up to the task.

It looks like Messi got his wish with the Daily Mail reporting that Lahoz hasn’t been included in FIFA’s final 12 referees for the remainder of the tournament.

Argentina take on Croatia in the semi-finals on Tuesday, while France take on Morocco on Wednesday for the right to play in Sunday’s final – all matches live on talkSPORT.

There were 36 referees at the start of the World Cup and among those who will remain in Qatar is Premier League referee Anthony Taylor. However, fellow Englishman Michael Oliver was not selected.

Brazilian Wilton Sampaio, who took charge of England’s quarter-final loss to France, also reached the last 12.

Although England received two penalties in the match, Sampaio made himself very unpopular with England players and fans after being criticized for not awarding a free kick to Bukayo Saka before France’s first goal as well. than a host of other decisions.

Of Sampaio’s performance, England defender Harry Maguire said: “Big decisions went against us, a lot of decisions went against us, I might say.

“We fought, we kept going, we kept pushing, we created chance after chance and they were clinical in two moments and that’s why they’re world champions, and I’ll probably say that’s why they are favorites for the tournament.

“I think the referee’s decision-making throughout the game was really poor. We are always there and as players we get criticized – so it would be nice to see if he comes out and says if he had a good game or not.

“Because there were so many decisions in that first half where they made five, six early fouls. I think H [Harry Kane] was outside the box but it was a clear foul, he didn’t in the second half, Bukayo’s is a clear foul leading to their first goal.

“Big moments, big decisions, you expect to get some, but unfortunately tonight we didn’t get any.”