Lionel Messi and Argentina have qualified for the semi-finals for the first time since 2014 when they made it to the finals. They face a tough challenge in the form of Luka Modric‘s Croatia. The quarter-final match between Netherlands and Argentina was one of the closest matches in the World Cup. Things got heated and fiery between the two sets of players during the match.
Official semi finals 🚨🏆 #Qatar2022
▪️ France vs Morocco
▪️ Argentina vs Croatia
Who’s gonna win the Cup? 👀 pic.twitter.com/lTg2XXzA3Q
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 10, 2022
Lionel Messi had words to say against Louis van Gaal and Wout Weghorst and even criticized referee Mateu Lahoz. FIFA have opened a disciplinary investigation into the events that took place in the quarter-finals match. Some believe this could mean Messi will be banned for Argentina’s all-important match against Croatia on Tuesday.
Messi’s surprising comments on referee Mateu Lahoz
The match between Argentina and Netherlands saw 18 yellow cards and one red card issued by Mateu Lahoz. The Spanish referee was in the news for all the wrong reasons following the quarter-final match. His decisions were abysmal all over the pitch, with both sets of players criticizing his poor performance. Such refereeing has been commonplace this World Cup, which is a worrying issue.
Lionel Messi doesn’t think referee Mateu Lahoz was up to the task. 👀 pic.twitter.com/z7OHMaZ6jg
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 9, 2022
“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 said about Lahoz after Argentina’s nail-biting win over the Netherlands.
In a statement, FIFA said, “The charges against the Argentina football federation relate to player and staff misconduct and ‘order and security at matches’.” Both teams will be investigated regarding the mass confrontations and comments they made regarding the referee. It was surprising to see someone as level-headed as Messi criticizing the referee so emphatically.
Fans react to Lionel Messi’s expulsion news
It seems very unlikely that Messi would face a ban for his comments on the referee. But some reports suggest that there is a possibility. The same happened with Robert Lewandowski in La Liga, for which he faced a three-match ban. Messi was banned by FIFA for a similar issue in 2017, but that does not seem to be happening this time around.
Wait so both Messi and Martinez commenting and disrespecting the referee? Surely they could both get banned the same way Lewandowski did https://t.co/itEyBEYPgo
— Wiktor 🇵🇱 (@WiktorSZN) December 10, 2022
No point in that at all then
— Wiktor 🇵🇱 (@WiktorSZN) December 10, 2022
Fans do not want to see Messi getting banned for his views on the referee.
Man they need to stop cause If Messi get suspended I’m done with this sport
— Fendi (@Fendidrips) December 9, 2022
no one will if fifa understands it .
— Soumyadeep Deb (@_LeoMessi10___) December 10, 2022
They should be careful with their words, at least they could do this after world cup.
— hayzedalkmaar (@AzAlkmaar25) December 10, 2022
Lahoz is expected to return to Spain after the quarter-final as he was not appointed to officiate either of the semi-finals or the final. Argentina face Croatia before Morocco face France in what promises to be an exciting end to this World Cup.
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