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After sending controversial referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz back to home for his questionable choices during the quarterfinal game between Argentina and Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup 2022, the referee to officiate the match between Lionel Messi-led Argentina and Luka Modric's Croatia has been revealed.
The FIFA World Cup 2022 quarterfinal clash between Netherlands and Argentina saw 18 yellow cards and one red card being dished out, setting up a world record. After the game, seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi asked the FIFA to address the situation and in a couple of days got his wish fulfilled.
Italian referee Daniele Orsato has been chosen by the FIFA to officiate the 2022 Qatar World Cup semifinal match between Argentina and Croatia on Tuesday at the Lusail Stadium. In 2020, Orsato was awarded the best referee of the year by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
After officiating games in the group stage, Orsato did not feature in the knockout stage matches and the semifinal clash between Argentina and Croatia will be his third game as a referee in the tournament. The 47-year-old Italian took charge of the opener in the FIFA World Cup 2022 between hosts Qatar and Ecuador, and Argentina's match against Mexico in the group stage.
Orsato, who is associated with the UEFA Champions League since 2002, showed six yellow cards in his first FIFA World Cup game as a referee and then a total of five yellow cards in his second game.
Meanwhile, defending champions France are set to face Morocco, who stunned Portugal in their last game, in the FIFA World Cup 2022 semifinals on Wednesday night at the Al Bayt Stadium.
