• The referee, 46, left the pitch in tears when he officiated final game last season
• He claims he was 'encouraged' to retire by the Technical Committee for Referees
• City-Liverpool is tough to referee... but our campaign is up and running

The 46-year-old produced a record 17 cards, which included a red for Denzel Dumfries after Argentina's penalty-shootout victory. 

Following the game, Messi led criticism against him which saw him sent home from the tournament before the semi-finals.

Now, Mateu Lahoz has claimed he was 'demoted' as a referee and 'pushed' to retire by the Technical Committee for Referees (CTA) after he was given a guard of honour in his finalgame in La Liga last season.

'I would have continued on the pitch. But for the CTA I was one of the worst referees last season and that is why I am not on the green.'

Following his World Cup controversy, Lahoz was immediately thrust back into the limelight when he dished out another 15 cards during a game between Barcelona and Espanyol.

Messi originally criticised the ref last year by saying: 'I don't want to speak about referees because after they will sanction you. But people saw what happened.

Firstly, I wanted to be in before Leo to show him I was there and the commitment I have to the team and the club,' Beckham said in an interview with The Times. 'But it was also important for me to enjoy this moment after all the hard work.

'I wanted to see him come in, see him go about everything he does so professionally, setting an example to all the young kids here. 

'He is a superstar, but the most humble superstar. And I just love to watch him train.