Concerns over possible World Cup favouritism towards Argentina have intensified after FIFA confirmed that Ismail Elfath, a referee with notable previous links to Lionel Messi matches, will take charge of England’s eagerly awaited semi-final against the reigning champions.
Argentina arrive at Wednesday’s showdown with the Three Lions having struggled to find their most convincing form, edging through tense knockout ties against Egypt and Switzerland in the last 16 and quarter-finals.
Those victories were not without controversy. Egypt had a goal ruled out in disputed circumstances, while Switzerland were reduced to 10 men after striker Breel Embolo was sent off, prompting a fierce reaction and renewed claims from some supporters that FIFA is seeking to steer the tournament in Messi and Argentina’s favour — allegations the governing body firmly rejects.
On Tuesday, FIFA confirmed Elfath as the referee for the semi-final at Atlanta Stadium, arguably the biggest appointment of his officiating career. England will be attempting to reach their first World Cup final since 1966, while Argentina are aiming to book a place in a second successive final.
The Moroccan-born American official will be joined by fellow United States assistants Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins. It will be Elfath’s fourth match at this World Cup, though his first involving either England or Argentina at the tournament. Italy’s Maurizio Mariani has been named as the fourth official.
Elfath also had a role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar, serving as fourth official when Messi’s side defeated France in the final. His connection to Messi’s matches has grown since the forward joined MLS club Inter Miami in July 2023.
Just a month after Messi’s arrival in Florida, Inter Miami lifted the Leagues Cup by beating Nashville SC in a final refereed by Elfath.
Messi opened the scoring that night with a superb long-range finish into the top corner before Nashville fought back to equalise. The match was eventually decided on penalties, with Miami winning 10-9 and Messi converting their first spot-kick in the shootout.
Ismail Elfath (second from right) will referee England’s World Cup semi-final clash with Argentina on Wednesday. Pictured with Messi when he officiated the 2022 World Cup final
The 44-year-old has refereed Lionel Messi four times at club level – all four resulting in wins – heightening fears for England ahead of the semi-final
In fact, since coming to America, Messi has been officiated four times by Elfath – winning on all of those occasions. As well as the aforementioned Leagues Cup final, Messi has scored four times across the other three MLS games.
And England players be warned as Elfath’s MLS record this season indicates he doesn’t mind getting his notebook out. In 10 matches he officiated in, before the season paused for the World Cup, he had dished out 41 yellow cards, sent off three players and awarded three penalties.
That approach has been matched at this World Cup so far where he has issued eight yellow cards and one red card across three matches – Netherlands 2-2 Japan, Spain 1-0 Uruguay and Norway 2-1 Brazil.
The Spain-Uruguay game with controversy too as the 44-year-old was targeted by the Spanish media afterwards for his performance. He was accused of not being firm enough with the Uruguayans – as the match became spiky. Deep into second-half stoppage-time Uruguay midfielder Agustin Canobbio was sent off late on for high challenge on Pau Cubarsi.
However, the biggest gripe from the Spanish media came as a result of Nicolas De La Cruz’s challenge on Nico Williams that left him injured. Williams described it as ‘one of the worst days of my life’ post-match but played the final minutes of their quarter-final win over Portugal.
Elfath’s most recent match too had a controversial moment when he initially dismissed Brazil’s appeals for a penalty after Norway defender Kristoffer Ajer fouled Matheus Cunha. However, VAR intervened and Elfath overturned his decision before Bruno Guimaraes saw his spot-kick saved.
Messi and Argentina have faced scrutiny throughout this World Cup so far with allegations of refereeing bias in their favour. The latest incident came on Saturday when Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji claimed everything was ‘against us’ after their 3-1 quarter-final exit in extra-time.
Switzerland’s players and manager were incensed after Embolo became the first player to be sent off as a result of a new rule for mistaken identity.
Elfath was the fourth official during the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France
Messi approaches ref Joao Pinheiro in Argentina’s World Cup quarter-final win vs Switzerland
Switzerland’s players protest after Breel Embolo was shown a red card late in the game
With the quarter-final level on 72 minutes, Embolo was shown a second yellow card after a video assistant referee review which led to him being adjudged to have dived – rather than being fouled by Argentina’s Leandro Paredes. A new rule introduced for this World Cup states that if a player is booked or sent off – but the foul was actually committed by the opposition – the decision can be changed.
Reflecting post-match, Akanji fumed: ‘Every little thing was called against us’ and ‘I’ve never experienced such a one-sided game.’ Manager Murat Yakin called the refereeing ‘incomprehensible’.
Last week, FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina hit out at those questioning the integrity of the World Cup officials, insisting that they cannot be influenced by anyone following Egypt’s complaints after their last-16 defeat by Argentina.
The reigning champions battled back from 2-0 after 78 minutes to win 3-2 in Atlanta, with Egypt manager Hossam Hassan later accusing FIFA of rigging the World Cup in favour of Argentina’s talisman Messi.
Hassan’s protestations were magnified also by footage showing him angrily waiting to confront Argentina inside the tunnel after the full-time whistle too.
Addressing criticisms towards the officiating, Collina rubbished the allegations towards his staff and pinpointed the wider ramifications it has on the accused individuals.
Asked by FIFA.com how he has viewed the World Cup so far, the FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer said: ‘Let’s start by saying that we have now played 50 per cent more matches than at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and there are still eight more huge games to be played.
‘Overall, we are happy. However, with such a high number of matches played in a relatively short period of time, it is normal that some things do not go as expected. When that happens, they are ready to work even harder to ensure they are fully prepared for the next match.
‘Of course, constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but unfounded allegations have no place in our sport. Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials. When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right.
‘Equally, nobody can claim that FIFA Refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by the FIFA President [Gianni Infantino]. He has always shown his full support for FIFA Team One while trusting us to work with complete independence. Match officials make honest decisions and, just like players and coaches, they always try to do their best.’
FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina has defended the under-fire World Cup officials
Egypt manager Hossam Hassan furiously accused FIFA of rigging the World Cup after his side were knocked out by Argentina in the last 16
Egypt goalkeeper coach Saafan El-Sagheer was sent off after the bench reacted furiously to Enzo Fernandez’s winning goal for Argentina, as they fumed at multiple decisions against them
Collina’s viewpoint differed strongly with Hassan’s who was fuming at the outcome of the match.
After Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage-time winner, chaos ensued with Egypt’s furious staff remonstrating with referee Francois Letexier, leading to goalkeeper coach Saafan El-Sagheer being shown a red card and Hassan being dragged away from a confrontation with the official.
The Pharaohs were furious that the referee – and also VAR – had not awarded Egypt a penalty moments before Argentina’s winner, as Mohamed Salah was brought down inside the box after having his foot clipped by Julian Alvarez.
Earlier in the second half, Egypt themselves had a goal disallowed by VAR due to a foul in the build-up. Throughout the game, a string of decisions went in favour of Argentina, who have now progressed to the quarter-finals as they bid to retain their crown in North America.
After the match, Hassan could not contain his outrage and furiously accused world football’s governing body FIFA of rigging the tournament so that all-time great Messi could remain in the competition for ‘marketing reasons’.
‘We were better, but football is unfair,’ the heartbroken coach said in his post-match interview.
‘It could be a matter of marketing, they could want to make a World Cup with the champion of the last World Cup, they want Messi to exist (in the tournament).
‘I thank my players very much. To all the Egyptians, the Arabs, the Africans, you can work hard, it’s what you have to do, but sometimes there are other factors that make you struggle.
‘I wish we could be happier with the loss, but with a severe loss like today I say to them (my players) be upset. We wish we could be happier. Thank God for everything but football is different from what happens in the stadium when we are playing against the world champions.
‘There is support from all directions for the world champions. Support and marketing.’
He added later: ‘Why isn’t there any fairness in sport? In football? I do not want to try to put it nicely here with beautiful wording. We have been treated unfairly today. We have suffered injustice.’
Hassan went on to claim that the result was influenced by ‘internal’ and ‘external’ factors and that Egypt had objected to the selection of Letexier as referee.
Ziko added fuel to the fire after the game by describing Letexier as an ‘unjust’ referee.
Mostafa Ziko, who netted Egypt’s second goal, congratulated Argentina on already winning the World Cup, claiming that the holders have been shown favouritism by ‘unjust’ referees
‘Referee, not fair,’ he said in tears during his post-match interview. ‘Unjust, unjust referee. An unjust person. An injustice that is so clear.
‘He’s wasting the effort of an entire nation. Since the beginning of the game, we were leaving the game winning 2-0 against Argentina. But the cup has already been given.’
‘I apologise to (the Egypt fans). We wanted to make them happy today. We didn’t know how to do that. But, by God, it’s not in our hands; it’s in the hands of the referee. The cup has already been decided.
‘Congratulations to Argentina on the World Cup. Congratulations. You don’t need anything else.’
How much is David Beckham set to pocket from his World Cup brand deals? Take on our quiz in our newsletter HERE
