The World governing body for football, FIFA has bow to pressure to sanction referee Mateu Lahoz.
This comes after the Spanish referee officiating against Argentina quarter final game against Netherlands.
Recall that Lionel Scaloni side advanced into the semi final following hard fought match with the Oranje.
The match between Argentina and Holland in the quarterfinals, where the referee issued an astounding 15 yellow cards, was his final one.
Both teams did not think well of Lahoz's performance, with Argentina's players particularly vociferous about his officiating.
Following the game, Lionel Messi, Argentina's captain and icon, was in the forefront of the criticism of Lahoz.
Messi said: 'I don't want to speak about referees because after they will sanction you. But people saw what happened,'
Messi's request to not officiate in the semifinals or championship game appears to have been approved by Fifa.
Argentina's World Cup campaign continues, unlike Lahoz, despite their criticism of the referee.
The 35-year-old continued: '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.'
In the semi-final match, Messi and his Argentine side will take on Croatia. The game is expected to kick off at 8pm GMT on Tuesday night.
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