Antonio Lahoz to return home after criticism from Leo Messi | OneFootball

Referee Antonio Lahoz is now set to exit Qatar after public criticism from Argentina superstar Lionel Messi.

Following Argentina’s penalty shootout win over the Netherlands, Messi had stated that Lahoz should not be allowed to officiate in a game as important as the one he played in. Emiliano Martinez also gave an interview and criticised Lahoz and so did Louis van Gaal.

Spanish outlet Cadena SER (via ABola) have reported that Lahoz is now set to return to Spain and he will not referee in the upcoming remaining three games of the tournament.

In addition to the Spaniard, the Argentine referees Fernando Rapallini and Facundo Tello, who were in the Morocco-Portugal game, will also return to their respective countries, but under the rules which determine that from the semi-finals onwards, there can be no referees of the same nationality as the teams playing.

GWFN