Earth Cup referee Mateu Lahoz returned from his Qatar woes by exhibiting a remarkable 16 cards in the Barcelona derby. Lahoz was slammed for his effectiveness all through Argentina’s victory more than Holland earlier this month, drawing criticism from Lionel Messi.
Lahoz missing manage of the fiery quarter-last, displaying 15 yellow cards. Messi – who was a person of the gamers booked – noticed later on: “I imagine Fifa ought to acquire treatment of this, it are unable to put a referee like that for a match of these magnitude, of this sort of value. The referee can not fail to be up to the undertaking.”
The 45-yr-old was despatched residence right away immediately after the tie, which Argentina received on penalties. He has now taken charge of his initial recreation again in La Liga and continued his eyebrow-elevating use of playing cards by exhibiting 16 all through Barcelona’s 1-1 attract with Espanyol.
Veteran Barca left-back again Jordi Alba and Espanyol star Vinicius Souza both equally saw crimson in the sick-tempered affair. VAR intervened to overturn a purple card shown to Leandro Cabrera, whilst Barca boss Xavi Hernandez also appeared to be dismissed late in the activity.
Alba, Gavi, Pedri, Raphinha and Ansu Fati were all booked for hosts Barca. Lahoz confirmed seven yellow playing cards to Espanyol gamers, such as the two waved in the route of Souza.
Barca led as a result of Marcos Alonso’s seventh-moment goal. Espanyol equalised via previous Stoke striker Joselo right after Lahoz experienced awarded a penalty.
The sport turned sour in the closing 15 minutes, with Alba revealed a second yellow card for protesting about the award of a free kick. Souza’s next yellow was for preventing a counter-assault.
Espanyol person Cabrera was then shown a red card in the aftermath of Souza’s dismissal. Lahoz considered that the defender experienced kicked Barca striker Robert Lewandowski, only for VAR to disprove his idea.
Lahoz will deal with renewed criticism for his display, just months after he was sent dwelling from the Entire world Cup having shed management of Argentina’s clash with Holland. La Liga officiating will also come below the spotlight, with a shocking normal of a person pink card per game this period.
Previous Barca striker Gary Lineker responded to a tweet about Lahoz’s display screen by tweeting: “When he blows, he blows.”
Earth Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez risked a ban at the event by slamming Lahoz as “useless”. He claimed immediately after the earn in excess of Holland: “He was offering free kicks outside the box for them, like two or 3 occasions. He just wished them to rating, which is mainly it, so hopefully we will not have that ref anymore. He’s worthless.”