Copa America 2016 final: Argentina v/s Chile - Twitter reacts to referee Heber Lopes' two red cards

The entire first half has been dominated by Brazilian referee Heber Lopes who has a way with cards. In the first half he sent off Marcelo Diaz after he handed out two yellows, the second of which was rather harsh in which the Chilean appeared to collide with Messi. Then when Lionel Messi went down in the area after a little wind blew in his direction (Ronaldo and Messi do inspire each other), the referee gave him a yellow card. And then Lopes evened it out by handing Rojo a red card after the Argentina defender appeared to challenge Vidal from behind, which by all stretches of imagination was only  a yellow.

So at the end of the second half, we’ve both teams are down to 10 men and the match is about the referee. Twitter exploded as they hit out at the referee’s high-handedness and trigger-happy nature. 

Anyone else feel this ref *just* graduated referee academy?#CopaAmerica

— Andrien Gbinigie (@EscoBlades) June 27, 2016

The Referee throwing cards like #copaamerica pic.twitter.com/QMHNXxXgvu

— Mariio (@ayye_its_mariio) June 27, 2016

Literally all we need is a missed penalty and this #CopaAmerica final has more than all the Euros games combined

— UNILAD Football (@UNILADFooty) June 27, 2016

Is it just me or does this game seem like it's more about the ref than anyone else. #CopaAmerica #ARGvCHI

— francesca fiorentini (@franifio) June 27, 2016

Vegas currently taking odds on who will next be shown a red card in this match. #CopaAmerica

— FourFourTwo USA (@FourFourTwoUSA) June 27, 2016

We could land up with 5 a side in this match #CopaAmerica final pic.twitter.com/nu8f6Zl6gW

— Skills in Heels (@Boxofficefooty) June 27, 2016

This ref must have stock in Hallmark the way he's handing out cards #CopaAmerica

— Terry Gibson (@PastorGibson) June 27, 2016

Heber Lopes has shown 14 red cards in the last 27 games he's officiated in, including 2 tonight. #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/gm0RgcQicN

— Transfer Swoop (@SwoopTransfer) June 27, 2016

How all humans feel about the current state of the #CopaAmerica refereeing. pic.twitter.com/Ni1oHqogKZ

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) June 27, 2016

Our money is on the ref tonight, at this pace he'll be the only one left on the pitch!#CopaAmerica

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) June 27, 2016

This has been comfortably one of the worst refereeing performances ever -- and in a major final too #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/GGIKL6wA3n

— Onefootball (@Onefootball) June 27, 2016

Great spectacle, but not sure this is a straight red by any stretch of the imagination! #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/paoZDKQZTe

— Carly Adno (@CarlyW226) June 27, 2016

The referee in the #CopaAmerica final is giving out cards like.. pic.twitter.com/eLGsOTFPFe

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) June 27, 2016

The ref has clearly made this match about himself. That's disappointing but should open up in 2nd half. #CopaAmerica

— Joe Gauder (@Joe19G27) June 27, 2016