Another big match for South Africa’s star referee Victor Gomes in the FIFA World Cup has been confirmed.
Gomes will be the fourth official when the Netherlands face Argentina in what promises to be a blockbuster match in the quarter-final at Lusail Iconic Stadium on Friday (17:00).
The man in charge of the match will be Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz, who will work alongside the first assistant and countrymen Pau Cebrian and second is Roberto Diaz.
This will be Mateu’s third game in charge in these World Cup finals, after he was in charge of Qatar losing to Senegal and Iran losing to United States of America, dishing out six yellow cards in the process.
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Gomes, on the other hand, has also officiated in two matches thus far and this will be his first as fourth official. He was in charge of France 4-1’s victory over Australia and Japan’s stunning 2-1 win over Spain – all in the group stages.
The 45-year-old Lahoz will be refereeing the first match that includes Lione Messi since the Argentina superstar left Barcelona two seasons ago.
Interestingly, in all key final matches he has been in charge, Messi has lost – against his bitter rivals in Spain – Real Madrid.
He was in charge when Madrid beat Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup in the 2012/13 season and the Copa del Rey final when again Madrid also won in the 2013/14 season.
Lahoz’s biggest match internationally was when Chelsea beat Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League final in the 2020/21 season.
