Controversial referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz has NOT been given a game by LaLiga this weekend

Antonio Mateu Lahoz has not been given a LaLiga game to referee this weekend after his controversial performance in Barcelona’s derby draw with Espanyol on New Year’s Eve that saw him hand out 15 yellow cards and two red cards.

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

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

Antonio Mateu Lahoz brandished 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 Spanish official took centre stage once more on Wednesday night when he sent off Sevilla manager Jorge Sampaoli in the first half of his side’s 5-0 win against Linares in the Copa del Rey.

LaLiga have now acted by deciding not to hand Lahoz a match in the Spanish top-flight over the weekend.

Lahoz’s return to domestic action has been a dramatic one, and follows him causing a stir at the World Cup when he refereed Argentina’s quarter-final clash with the Netherlands.

Xavi was also booked and he accused Lahoz of ‘losing control’ of the game

In an ill-tempered contest, Lahoz handed out 15 yellow cards and sent off Denzel Dumfries after the final whistle.

The game had a number of flashpoints, with players clashing after Leandro Paredes booted the ball into the Netherlands dugout, while Argentina were not happy with the conduct of some of the Netherlands players during the penalty shootout.

Argentina ultimately came out on top, but Lionel Messi and Emiliano Martinez both heavily criticised Mateu Lahoz’s display.

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

Messi called for FIFA to take action, stating: ‘I think FIFA must take care of this, it cannot put a referee like that for a match of such magnitude, of such importance. The referee cannot fail to be up to the task.’

Martinez was even more damning in his assessment of Mateu Lahoz, as he said in a post-match interview: ‘The referee gave everything for them. He gave 10 minutes [added time] for no reason. 

‘He was giving free-kicks outside the box for them, like two, three times. He just wanted them to score, that’s basically it. So, hopefully we don’t have him that ref anymore. He’s useless.’

Messi got his wish, as Lahoz was sent home from Qatar without officiating another match.