FIFA sends Spanish referee Mateu Lahoz home For Poor Officiating: Reports

FIFA decided to end the participation of Spanish referee Mateo Lahoz in the World Cup. Spanish official Antonio Mateu Lahoz has been sent home from the FIFA World Cup after criticism from Argentina icon Lionel Messi. The 45-year-old took charge of the highly controversial quarter-final clash between Argentina and the Netherlands. According to Deportivo, Lahoz is heading home after his disappointing officiating of Argentina's win over the Netherlands. The Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo" reported that this came after the controversial match he ran between the Netherlands and Argentina in the quarter-finals of the tournament, which ended with the qualification of tango dancers with penalty kicks. Lahoz had come under fire after he handed as many as 18 yellow cards during the match. His handling of the game triggered negative feedback from both sets of players as well as fans.  The same newspaper had indicated that Matteo Lahoz would not be assigned to the World Cup final if Argentina qualified for the final match. Argentina captain Lionel Messi was particularly scathing of Lahoz in his post-match statements. Messi, at the time, urged FIFA to look into the issue and not allow Lahoz to officiate another match.