The two players from Argentina who miss the semifinal due to accumulation of yellow cards
Mateu Lahoz, the controversial match referee Netherlands vs. Argentina In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he drew 17 yellow cards in the match, and his refereeing was highly criticized, especially by the Albicelestes. Nine Argentines were booked, including Lionel Messi, the team’s star. What happens with these yellow cards for the semifinal match against Croatia? Who can and can’t play?
The FIFA regulations for the World Cup he says it clearly: “If a player or member of the coaching staff is reprimanded in two different matches, he will automatically be suspended and will not be able to participate in the next match of his team.”
In the quarterfinal match, Marcos Acuña, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Leandro Paredes, Lionel Messi, Nicolás Otamendi, Gonzalo Montiel and Germán Pezzella received yellow cards, in addition to coach Lionel Scaloni.
Two of them had yellow cards from matches in the group stage: Marcos Acuña in the match against Poland and Gonzalo Montiel in the match against Mexico. As both were booked against the Netherlands, they must serve a one-match suspension and will not be able to be in the semifinal against Croatia.
Acuña has played all five of Argentina’s games, four as a starter and one coming on as a substitute (the first, against Saudi Arabia), according to data from DataFactory. He is one of the fixtures of the Scaloneta. In the World Cup he has been replaced on the field by Nicolás Tagliafico.
Montiel has played three games, one as a starter and two entering the game as a substitute. Montiel is a replacement for Nahuel Molina.