Lionel Messi has an influence on referees as per Pepe. After the 2016 European champions lost to Morocco on December 10 and were eliminated from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Portugal’s Pepe launched shots at Lionel Messi‘s Argentina. The quarterfinal match was officiated by Argentina’s Facundo Tello. Pepe wasn’t pleased with the choice, particularly after Messi yesterday attacked the Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz. Lahoz oversaw La Albiceleste’s matchup with the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
Pepe further asserted that FIFA ought to have already given Lionel Scaloni’s team the World Cup trophy. He stated: “Given what transpired yesterday, which resulted in Messi complaining, it is unacceptable that an Argentine referee was in control today. They may now award Argentina the championship based on what I witnessed today.” 17 yellow cards were issued by Lahoz during yesterday’s tense quarterfinal match. The match’s refereeing infuriated the Argentine captain.
After the match in the FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi said; “I won’t talk about the officials because they’ll punish you afterward. But many witnessed what occurred. FIFA, in my opinion, needs to handle this. Such a referee cannot be used for a game of this magnitude and importance. The referee must be capable of handling the situation.”
In the days leading up to the match against the Netherlands, Lionel Messi alleged that Louis van Gaal treated him disrespectfully. Messi revealed in front of the Dutch coach after scoring from the penalty spot in the second half. “I feel embarrassed by Van Gaal after his pregame statements,” the Argentine star told reporters after the match. “Some Dutch players spoke too much during the game.”
He went on to criticize the tactics used by Louis van Gaal’s team. “Van Gaal promotes that he plays good football, but then he puts attackers in the box and starts playing long balls, We deserved to go through and that’s what happened,” the 35-year-old stated. Lionel Messi will need to return his attention to the semifinal match against Croatia now that the game against the Netherlands is over. In the tournament’s quarterfinals, Vatreni’s defeated Brazil in a penalty shootout.
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