The semifinal between Argentina and England has not yet begun, but it has already become embroiled in a new controversy.
After it was announced that American Ismail Elfath will be in charge of officiating the match, several British media outlets reacted with headlines that quickly went around the world. The most talked-about was the Daily Mail’s, which described him as “Lionel Messi’s favorite referee”, while other newspapers claimed that the appointment will only increase the suspicions of those who believe Argentina has been favored throughout the tournament.
The controversy arises because Elfath was present as the fourth official in the 2022 World Cup final and, in addition, officiated several Inter Miami matches with Messi on the field, all of which ended in victories for the Argentine’s team. That fact was enough for the English press to begin questioning FIFA’s decision.
However, so far there is no evidence of refereeing favoritism. FIFA itself has repeatedly defended the independence of its officials and maintains that appointments are based solely on sporting criteria.
With the precedent of the controversies surrounding Argentina’s matches against Egypt and Switzerland, the choice of referee only added more tension to a semifinal that was already shaping up to be one of the hottest of the World Cup.