Controversial referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz has NOT gotten a game from LaLiga this weekend

Antonio Mateu Lahoz has not been given a LaLiga game to referee this weekend after showing 15 yellow cards and two red cards in Barcelona’s derby draw with Espanyol on New Year’s Eve.

After Lahoz awarded Espanyol a penalty with just under 20 minutes to go at the Nou Camp, the game descended into chaos, with Lahoz showing five yellow cards and two red cards in just six minutes.

Barcelona’s Jordi Alba and Espanyol’s Vinicius Souza both received their marching orders and Lahoz continued to use his yellow card frequently in the closing stages, even booking Barcelona boss Xavi.

Antonio Mateu Lahoz received 15 yellow cards in Barcelona’s draw with Espanyol

Lahoz also sent off two players, including Espanyol’s Vinicius Souza

Xavi later accused Lahoz of losing control of the game and the Spain official was the center of attention again on Wednesday night as he defeated Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli in the first half of his side’s 5-0 win over Linares in the Copa del of the day Place provided Rey.

LaLiga have now acted and decided not to give Lahoz a game in the Spanish top flight at the weekend.

Lahoz’s return to home action was dramatic and follows on from causing quite a stir at the World Cup when he officiated Argentina’s quarter-final game against the Netherlands.

Xavi was also cautioned, blaming Lahoz for losing control of the game

In a bad-tempered duel, Lahoz dealt 15 yellow cards and sent Denzel Dumfries off after the final whistle.

The game had a number of hot spots, with players colliding after Leandro Paredes pumped the ball into the Dutch dugout, while Argentina were not happy with the behavior of some Dutch players during the penalty shootout.

Argentina eventually prevailed but Lionel Messi and Emiliano Martinez both heavily criticized Mateu Lahoz’s performance.

Lahoz struggled to gain control of Argentina’s World Cup clash with the Netherlands

Calling on FIFA to act, Messi said: “I think FIFA needs to take care of this, they can’t use a referee like that for a game of such magnitude and importance. The referee must be up to the task.”

Martinez was even more scathing in his assessment of Mateu Lahoz, saying in a post-game interview: “The referee gave everything for them. He gave 10 minutes [added time] for no reason.

“He gave them free-kicks outside the box, like two or three times. He just wanted them to score, that was basically it. Hopefully we won’t have him as a referee anymore. He’s useless.’

Messi got his wish when Lahoz was sent home from Qatar without officiating another game.