{"id":153599,"date":"2022-12-10T07:32:59","date_gmt":"2022-12-10T07:32:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/messi-and-martinez-criticise-useless-referee-after-argentinas-win-over-netherlands\/"},"modified":"2022-12-10T07:32:59","modified_gmt":"2022-12-10T07:32:59","slug":"messi-and-martinez-criticise-useless-referee-after-argentinas-win-over-netherlands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/messi-and-martinez-criticise-useless-referee-after-argentinas-win-over-netherlands\/","title":{"rendered":"Messi and Martinez criticise ‘useless’ referee after Argentina’s win over Netherlands"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lionel Messi and Emi Martinez have criticised the performance of referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz in Argentina’s World Cup quarter-final against the Netherlands, with the Aston Villa goalkeeper describing the Spaniard as \u201cuseless\u201d.<\/p>\n

Argentina edged out the Netherlands on penalty kicks after a dramatic and bad-tempered match which saw Lahoz hand out more than a dozen yellow cards.<\/p>\n

After the match, Messi told Argentine sports channel TyC Sports<\/a> that Lahoz was \u201cnot up to the task\u201d of managing the quarter-final. He said: \u201cIt’s very frustrating, very frustrating. (The match) didn’t have to end that way.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not want to talk about the referee because you’ll be punished. You cannot be honest. You can’t say what you’re thinking. If you do, they’ll sanction you for a match. But I believe the people saw what happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were scared before the game because we knew what this was. I think FIFA must think about it, they cannot put a referee like that for these important games, for such a pivotal game, a referee who isn’t up to the task.\u201d<\/p>\n

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GO DEEPER<\/p>\n

Argentina beat Netherlands on penalties: The Messi pass, Martinez heroics and Weghorst causes havoc<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Martinez went even further.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe referee was giving everything to them,\u201d he told beIN Sports<\/a>. \u201cHe gave ten minutes for no reason.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe gave a free-kick outside the box to them two or three times. He just wanted them to score, that’s basically it.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo hopefully we don’t have that referee anymore, because he’s useless.\u201d<\/p>\n

FIFA’s disciplinary code forbids players from calling the integrity of match officials into question.<\/p>\n

The Athletic<\/em> has contacted FIFA for comment.<\/p>\n

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GO DEEPER<\/p>\n

The World Cup’s ‘Redemption bracket’<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Argentina had Martinez to thank for their victory, with the Aston Villa goalkeeper saving penalties from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis before Lautaro Martinez scored the winning spot kick to secure a 4-3 shootout win.<\/p>\n

Messi superbly set up Nahuel Molina for Argentina’s first-half opener before converting a penalty kick to put his side on course to face Croatia for a place in the final.<\/p>\n

But Wout Weghorst’s header 10 minutes later sparked his side into life and he then forced an additional thirty minutes when he scrambled the ball home with only seconds left.<\/p>\n

Neither side could find a winner, with Argentina the side to prevail on penalties.<\/p>\n

Messi added: \u201cWe didn’t have to go to extra time or penalties, we had to suffer. But we got through and it is something impressive.<\/p>\n

\u201cArgentina is among the four best teams in the world because we show that we know how to play every match with the same desire and intensity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis team understands the moments of the match. When we have to play, we play. When we have to defend, we do it too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Argentina will play Croatia for a place in the World Cup final and the 35-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward praised them as \u201ca great team\u201d.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cAt times they played on equal terms with Brazil. It is a team that has been working with the same coach for a long time and they know each other very well.\u201d<\/p>\n

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GO DEEPER<\/p>\n

The Radar – The Athletic’s 2022 World Cup scouting guide<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

(Photo: Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n