Piers Morgan claims Lionel Messi should have been sent off vs Holland for Argentina (Image: GETTY)
Piers Morgan has claimed Lionel Messi should have been sent off as Argentina battled past Netherlands on penalties to reach the World Cup semi-finals. The Copa America winners had to do it the hard way after surrendering a 2-0 lead as Dutch super sub Wout Weghorst scored two late goals to force Louis van Gaal's side level.
Virgil van Dijk decks Argentina star Leandro Parades as Netherlands bench invades pitch
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Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz wasn't shy to reach for his pocket having handed out 15 yellow cards including one for Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.
Lahoz was slated by Messi after the match as the Argentine hero told the media: "I don’t want to talk about the referee because they sanction you for being honest. I think people saw what it was. FIFA cannot use this kind of referee for this type of match.”
The Argentina captain was also involved in a hairy moment in the mixed zone when he appeared to call out a Dutch player at the start of his interview.
Heroic goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez did not hold back during his post-match interview, claiming the referee was against Argentina: "We went 2-0 up and we controlled the game before the ref was giving everything for them.
"All of a sudden they get a good header and then it turns upside down. The ref was giving everything for them, he gave 10 minutes for no reason. He was giving free-kicks outside the box, he just wanted them to score. Hopefully we don't have that ref anymore, he's useless."
"I heard Louis van Gaal saying 'we've got an advantage in penalties, if we go to penalties we win' I think he needs to keep his mouth shut."
Van Gaal has already revealed that Martinez told him he "talks too much" after the game during a brief conversation that was held in Spanish.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Martinez was also spotted shirtless swearing at the Holland bench after saving two spot-kicks, yelling: "I f*** you twice!"