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Controversial Mateu Lahoz breaks World Cup record with 19 yellow cards: “The worst ref at this World Cup” | 2022 football world cup

Rarely were the opinions about a referee so unanimous after a match: the Spaniard Mateu Lahoz made a mess of it in the Netherlands-Argentina, seasoned with no fewer than 19 yellow cards. He was hit hard by both camps.

Until yesterday, the Netherlands was already “shared” record holder at a World Cup, because in 2006 in the “Battle of Nürnberg” against Portugal 16 yellow cards were drawn.

The referee then was called Valentin Ivanov. Was he relieved or gnashing his teeth in front of his television yesterday when he saw Mateu Lahoz take away his yellow record?

It is remarkable that Lahoz only drew his first card after half an hour, even for the Argentinian assistant Walter Samuel. National coach Lionel Scaloni and Wout Weghorst also saw a cardboard flapping in front of them when they sat on the bench.

For the rest, Lahoz drew yellow cards on the field for:

  • Jurriën Timber (43′)
  • Marcos Acuna (43′)
  • Cristian Romero (45′)
  • Memphis Depay (76′)
  • Lisandro Martinez (76″)
  • Steven Berghuis (88′)
  • Leandro Paredes (89′)
  • Virgil van Dijk (90+1′)
  • Lionel Messi (90+10′)
  • Nicolas Otamendi (90+12′)
  • Steven Bergwijn (91′)
  • Gonzalo Montiel (109′)
  • German Pezzaella (112′)
  • Noa Lang (120′)
  • Denzel Dumfries (120′, 2x yellow)

That brings the bill to 19 yellow cards, because Denzel Dumfries and Noa Lang were still good for 3 yellow cards after the final whistle.

Criticism of Lahoz is harsh: “FIFA should look at this”

As hard as the Netherlands and Argentina went at each other during the match, they were united in their criticism of the referee afterwards.

“I think he wanted it to be 2-2, that’s why he let 10 minutes pass”, the Argentinian goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is not tender. “He is by far the worst ref at this World Cup.”

The usually long-suffering Lionel Messi also fell out of his role of ideal son-in-law (see “related”). “Actually, I don’t want to say anything about the ref, because as a player you can’t speak straight or you will be suspended.”

“Still, I think FIFA should look into this. You can’t put a referee like this on such a match. We already knew before the match (that he would throw cards, ed.).”

It was really outrageous. The referee was completely lost, was no longer open to reason.

Frankie Young

The orange steam came out of the ears in the Netherlands as well. “He was just throwing cards, I’ve never seen anything like that,” says Marten de Roon. “It’s hard to keep your head up.”

Jurriën Timber: “I had the feeling that all 15 yellow cards (which fell on the field) were for us. I was afraid of getting a 2nd yellow card myself, because he whistled a few times for a foul by me that didn’t make any sense at all. used to be.”

“Normally this is a good referee, but now it was really scandalous”, Frenkie de Jong is also hard as nails. “After regular time, they all went to him and after that he only whistled for Argentina. He was really beyond reason. He was completely lost.”

Who is Mateu Lahoz?

Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz, or Mateu Lahoz for short, is an established name in arbitration. The 45-year-old Valencian has been whistling matches in the Primera Division, the Spanish first division, since 2008.

In recent years, he has also often been given the tastiest chunks on the European stage. In 2021, for example, he was still the referee at the final of the Champions League, between Chelsea and Manchester City.

Lahoz may be a top referee, but he is certainly not undisputed. His expressive style has already offended many trainers, because the Spaniard often gives the impression that he wants to be in the spotlight himself. Controversial decisions by Lahoz – unavoidable in arbitration – are therefore more often than among his colleagues under a magnifying glass.

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