Emiliano Martinez has hit out at referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz following Argentina’s World Cup victory over Netherlands, saying ‘he wanted them to score’.
Martinez and his teammates were embroiled in a fiery battle in the last-eight as they progressed as a result of a penalty shoot-out win.
The contest was bad-tempered to say the least, with Lahoz handing out 15 yellow cards and a red card over the course of the game – and after it.
Lionel Messi gave Argentina a 2-0 lead, before Wout Weghorst drew the game level going into extra-time and penalties, with the South Americans earning a 4-3 shoot-out win to send them through.
But addressing the game as a whole, Aston Villa goalkeeper Martinez was not happy with the referee or Dutch head coach Louis van Gaal.
Speaking after the match to beIN Sports, Martinez said: “It was a tricky game and I thought we controlled the game really well.
“We went 2-0 up, we basically controlled the game and the referee was giving everything to them.
“All of a sudden they got a good header, a good flick, which I couldn’t see and then it turned upside-down.
“The ref was giving everything to them. He gave 10 minutes [added time] for no reason, 10 minutes.
“He was giving free-kicks outside the box for them two or three times – he just wanted them to score, that’s basically it.
“So hopefully we don’t have that referee anymore because he’s useless.”
Asked about the penalty shoot-out, Martinez said: “I heard Van Gaal saying that in a penalty shoot-out they had the advantage, or if we went to penalties then they would win – I think he needs to keep his mouth shut.”
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By: Phil Spencer
Title: ‘He is useless’ – Argentina and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez slams World Cup quarter-final referee and claims ‘he wanted Netherlands to score’
Sourced From: talksport.com/football/1273257/emiliano-martinez-argentina-aston-villa-netherlands-world-cup/
Published Date: Fri, 09 Dec 2022 23:37:20 +0000
