De Jong Claims Messi Influenced Referee Lahoz In Netherlands' Defeat To Argentina

Netherlands staged a remarkable comeback to come from two goals down at the Lusail Iconic stadium thanks to a late brace from substitute Wout Weghorst.

With the score locked at 2-2 after extra time, Argentina prevailed 4-3 on penalties after Virgil Van Dijk and Steven Berghuis missed their kicks for the Dutch.

Spanish referee Lahoz dished out a tournament record 15 yellow cards during the match, with both sets of players taking umbrage with some of his decisions.

Messi particularly singled out Lahoz for criticism in the ill-tempered affair but De Jong feels his former Barcelona teammate's presence contributed negatively to the referee's performance on the day.

"When regular playing time was over, the Argentina players all went to him and from then on he only whistled for Argentina," De Jong said of Lahoz. 

"Jurrien Timber's shoe was kicked off, but then he whistled for a foul against us. Luuk [de Jong] just wins a normal header and he blows his whistle, they kick the ball into our dugout, he doesn't care.

"Messi takes the ball with his hand, he just lets it go. He was really scandalous. 

"He is a nice guy, a good referee. But here he was beyond reason. I think he lost his way in overtime. 

"It could well be that the greatness of Lionel Messi had an influence on that. It's not the referee's fault, but it did affect the game."

Only Spain (4) have lost more penalty shootouts at the World Cup than Netherlands (1 win from 4).