FIFA have confirmed Argentina are under investigation after the scenes during their World Cup quarter-final win over the Netherlands.
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Lionel Scaloni’s side needed penalties to get past Netherlands, after Wout Weghorst came off the bench to force extra-time with a late brace.
But, that was not the only part of the story, with referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz issuing more than a dozen yellow cards and showing a red to Denzel Dumfries after the game ended.
The outcome was a repeat of the 2014 semi-final, when Argentina won on penalties after a goalless draw in Sao Paulo. The fallout is continuing, though, with FIFA issuing a statement.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Argentinian Football Association due to potential breaches of articles 12 (Misconduct of players and officials) and 16 (Order and security at matches) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code during the Netherlands v. Argentina FIFA World Cup™ match that took place on 9 December,” the statement read.
“Additionally, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Dutch Football Association due to potential breaches of article 12 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code in relation to the same match.”
Argentina manager Scaloni was shown a yellow card by the referee, as were a number of members of his squad. Dutch substitute Weghorst, meanwhile, was booked before entering the fray after an incident on the touchline.
Nahuel Molina put Argentina in front 10 minutes from half-time, latching onto a Lionel Messi pass. The PSG star himself doubled the lead from the penalty spot, only for Weghorst to strike twice.
Extra-time passed with no further goals scored, but Emi Martinez proved to be the hero in the shoot-out. The Aston Villa keeper saved from Van Dijk and Steven Berghuis, and Argentina prevailed despite Enzo Fernandez missing his own kick.
“This match shouldn’t have ended as it did,” Messi told TyC Sports after his team’s victory. “I don’t want to talk about the referee because they sanction you. But people saw what happened.
“We were afraid before the match because we knew how he was and I think FIFA has to review this. You can’t put a referee like him for these matches.”
