World Cup referee sent home after being slammed by Lionel Messi and Argentina

Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz will not oversee any more World Cup matches after feeling the wrath of Argentina star Lionel Messi.

The Spaniard was put in charge for the South American’s quarter-final showdown with the Netherlands last week.

Despite Argentina running out victorious on penalties, there were huge complaints sent the way of the official.

In what was a bad-tempered clash, Lahoz issued an eye-watering 17 yellow cards with Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries also receiving his marching orders despite the game having already finished.

Meanwhile, two-goal hero Wout Weghorst was also issued with a booking even before he took to the pitch.

Messi, the scorer of Argentina’s second goal in the game, aired his complaints about the official’s performance. He told TyC Sports “This match shouldn’t have ended as it did.

“I don’t want to talk about the referee because they sanction you.

But people saw what happened. We were afraid before the match because we knew how he was and I think FIFA has to review this. You can’t put a referee like him for these matches.”

It has emerged that Lahoz’s display has spelt the end of his World Cup campaign .The 45-year-old will not oversee any more matches at the tournament and is expected to return home to Spain.