Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after the quarter-final match of the 2022 World Cup against the Netherlands (2:2, pen. 4:3), the match referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Laos from Spain criticized and insulted:
“It was a difficult match. I think we controlled the game very well. We took a 2-0 lead, basically controlled the game, but the referee gave it their all. Suddenly they had a nice header that I couldn’t see. And then the game turned around.
The referee gave them everything. He conceded 10 minutes of recovery. No reason, 10 minutes! He gave them two or three free kicks near the penalty area. He just wanted the Dutch to score, that’s all. So let’s hope we don’t have that referee anymore because it’s just useless.
Penalty? I heard Van Gaal say that in a penalty shootout they would have an advantage, that if we go to a penalty shootout they would win. I think it needs keep your mouth shut».
On the evening of December 9, the quarterfinal match of the 2022 World Cup took place, in which the teams of Holland and Argentina met. The Argentine national team in a series of post-match 11-meter throws defeated the Netherlands (2:2, pen. 4:3) and advanced to the semifinals, where they will play against the Croatian team on December 13.
Antonio Miguel Mateu Laos handed out 15 yellow cards (!) for the match, as well as a red card to Denzel Dumfries after the match.
