Cristian Romero 'should have been sent off' during Argentina's World Cup quarter-final match against Holland for 'playing volleyball', according to football fans on Twitter.

Nahuel Molina put the South American side ahead in the first half, thanks to a stupendous assist from Lionel Messi, but Holland bounced back, pumping several long balls into Argentina's half putting pressure on their defence.

That soon seemed to take its toll on their backline, with Romero committing a nearly very costly error, using his hand to 'punch' the ball away from an advancing Memphis Depay, who could have been through on goal, but for Romero's intervention.

Despite Romero being the last man, the referee bizarrely decided to give the defender a yellow card, but many took to Twitter to criticise the decision arguing that Romero's sanction should have been upgraded to a red.

Some even laughed at his decision to handle the ball: 'Nah Romero should get a red for that that’s ridiculous!'

From the footage it is quite clear that the Tottenham defender, after failing to clear the ball with his head, strikes the ball away from the threat of the advancing Dutch winger with his hand in panic.

Hilariously, some even said that the 24-year-old should consider a switch from the football pitch to a volleyball court.

'Romero honey its football not volleyball,' one jested, while another also said: 'Romero out here playing volleyball.'

It's not the first time that Romero has escaped a large sanction though, with the defender almost landing himself in hot water earlier this season for a hair pull on Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella.

And fans were quick to question his lapse in concentration, saying: ' What's wrong with Romero' and 'Romero is actually brain-dead.'

Despite his moment of madness, Romero has proved an integral part of Lionel Scaloni's World Cup side, appearing in all of Argentina's matches, while starting in all three of their last games.