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Elfath, Referee at Center of VAR Debate, to Officiate England vs Argentina Semifinal

Elfath, Referee at Center of VAR Debate, to Officiate England vs Argentina Semifinal

FIFA has named American official Ismail Elfath as the referee for the England-Argentina semi-final at the 2026 World Cup. Elfath has already overseen three matches in this tournament. His most recent assignment saw him award two penalties to Brazil after VAR reviews during Norway’s Round of 16 win. The decisions sparked debate when Bruno Guimarães missed one spot-kick and Neymar converted the other. Earlier, Elfath refereed the Netherlands’ 2-2 draw with Japan and showed a red card in Spain’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay. His firm approach has earned praise in high-pressure games. With one of football’s greatest rivalries set to resume, FIFA hopes Elfath’s experience will keep the match fair and well-controlled as the winner moves to the World Cup final.

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H
hala

With Elfath handling big matches already, do fans trust his judgment for an England-Argentina semifinal heat?

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Y
yemi

When you think about his past VAR calls, which match stands out as most controversial to supporters?

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B
bisi

Elfath has overseen three matches so far, including controversial penalty calls. Those VAR decisions have shaped how referees are viewed now.

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G
grace

I no think say the two Brazil penalties automatically mean he's biased. Every referee gets tough calls wrong sometimes.

0
K
kris

Before the World Cup semifinal, teams should review recent VAR patterns and adjust strategy around set pieces and potential penalty scenarios.

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