Messi gets wish as Argentina vs Netherlands referee not retained at World Cup

Mateu Lahoz handed out a whopping 18 yellow cards during the quarter-final clash which Argentina won on penalties after both sides played out an enthralling 2-2 draw in the 90 minutes.

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But the match will forever be remembered for the chaotic scenes during and after the match with tempers spilling over on multiple occasions.

Lahoz was criticised hugely for his performance, including from Lionel Messi, who suggested the Spaniard wasn't fit to officiate a match of that magnitude.

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Messi said: "I don't want to speak about referees because after they will sanction you. But people saw what happened.

"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."

It appears Messi has got his wish with the Daily Mail reporting that Lahoz has not been included in FIFA's final 12 referees for the remainder of the tournament.

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There were 36 referees at the start of the World Cup and also among those to remain in Qatar is Premier League referee Anthony Taylor. Fellow Englishman Michael Oliver didn't make the cut, however.

Also making it to the final 12 is Brazilian Wilton Sampaio, who took charge of England's quarter-final defeat to France.

Although England were awarded two penalties in the match, Sampaio made himself very unpopular to England players and fans having been criticised for failing to award Bukayo Saka a free-kick before France's opening goal as well as a host of other decisions.

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On Sampaio's performance, England defender Harry Maguire said: "Big decisions went against us, a lot of decisions went against us, should I say.

"We fought, we kept going, kept pushing, we created chance after chance and they've been clinical in two moments and that's why they're the world champions, and I'll probably say that's why they're favourites for the tournament.

"I think the referee's decision-making throughout the game was really poor. We always stand here and as players we get criticised - so it would be nice to see if he comes out and says whether he's had a good game or not.

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"Because there were so many decisions in that first half where they made five, six early fouls. I think H [Harry Kane] was outside the box but it was a clear foul, he didn't in the second half, Bukayo's is a clear foul leading up to their first goal.

"Big moments, big decisions, you expect to get some right but unfortunately tonight we didn't get any."