World Cup: La Liga referee Mateu Lahoz sent home after Messi complaint

Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz will play no further part in the remaining matches of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar, as per reports.

The well-known La Liga referee was in charge of the quarterfinal clash between Argentina and the Netherlands at the Lusail Stadium in Doha on Friday, December 9.

The 45-year-old became highly unpopular among fans and players of both sides after the game as they deemed some of his decisions questionable.

Despite winning the game in the shootouts, Argentina captain Lionel Messi slammed FIFA for choosing a referee who he thinks is below par for such a high-profile game.

"I don't want to speak about referees because after they will sanction you. But people saw what happened," he said as quoted by Daily Mail.

"I think Fifa must take care of this, it cannot put a referee like that for a match of such magnitude, of such importance. The referee cannot fail to be up to the task"

According to COPE, Mateu Lahoz has been sent home and will not officiate any of the remaining four matches of the competition.

Many fans have linked the latest development to his performance in the Netherlands versus Argentina clash on Friday.