The Orange players are not pleased with the performance of referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz, who drew a record eighteen cards in the quarterfinals of the World Cup against Argentina on Friday. Frenkie de Jong suspects that the Spaniard felt intimidated by the Argentinian players.
“Before the start of extra time, when we had just made it 2-2, I saw the Argentinians all go to him,” says De Jong. “I think that had an influence, because in extra time he only whistled for Argentina. That was really outrageous.”
De Jong, who speaks excellent Spanish as a player for FC Barcelona, also tried to talk to Lahoz, but that was of little use. “I know him from the Spanish league. He is a nice man, but I think he lost his way now.”
According to Marten de Roon, it was difficult for the Orange players to remain calm due to all the provocations from the Argentines and an arbitrator who was not in control of the game. “The referee was throwing yellow cards, I’ve never seen that before,” says the midfielder, who played the first half at Lusail Stadium.
Like De Jong, De Roon is especially surprised about Lahoz’s decisions in extra time. “Every time an Argentinian went down, he whistled. But when Jurriën Timber’s shoe was kicked off, he didn’t do anything. I didn’t understand it, although I don’t want to blame the referee as the reason why we’re out.”
‘I was afraid of a red card’
What was special was that every time a different player got yellow. Only after the penalty shootout did Denzel Dumfries receive a second yellow card and therefore red. Timber feared to be sent away earlier.
“Just before half-time I got yellow for nothing and then I was afraid of red. I never knew what he would do with this referee. He could draw yellow at any time and I think he mainly drew it for us.”
Frenkie de Jong: “A player from Argentina shot the ball hard into our dug-out and didn’t get a yellow card. And when Messi grabbed the ball with his hand, the referee didn’t do anything either. A real shame.”
Incidentally, the Argentines were also angry about Lahoz’s performance afterwards. “FIFA needs to take a good look back at what happened,” said Messi. “They can’t put a referee of this level on such an important game.”
De kaarten tijdens Nederland-Argentinië
- Geel spelers Argentinië: Marcos Acuna (minuut 43), Cristian Romero (45), Lisandro Martínez (76), Leandro Paredes (89), Lionel Scaloni (90), Lionel Messi (90+10), Nicolas Otamendi (90+12), Gonzalo Montiel (110) en German Pezzella (112)
- Geel staf Argentinië: Walter Samuel (minuut 31) en Lionel Scaloni (90)
- Geel spelers Nederland: Jurriën Timber (minuut 43), Wout Weghorst (45+2), Memphis Depay (76), Steven Berghuis (88), Steven Bergwijn (91) en Noa Lang (na afloop)
- Rood speler Oranje: Denzel Dumfries (twee keer geel na afloop)
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