Lionel Messi gets “favorite referee” for Argentina vs. England World Cup semifinal

Questions surrounding Argentina and officiating have resurfaced after FIFA appointed American referee Ismail Elfath to oversee the World Cup semifinal between England and Lionel Messi’s side.

Elfath, who was born in Morocco before moving to the United States, has already come under scrutiny for several performances during the tournament. His selection immediately drew criticism in England, where media outlets and fans were quick to question FIFA’s decision.

English media wastes no time in questioning referee choice

The Daily Mail’s official X account led the reaction with a pointed post: “Lionel Messi gets his favourite referee for England vs Argentina World Cup semi-final.”

That message quickly sparked thousands of responses, with many England supporters expressing concern over the appointment before a ball has even been kicked.

Elfath-Messi history fuels criticism

Skepticism surrounding Elfath is not new. The referee has officiated four of Messi’s MLS matches, with the Argentine superstar winning all four.

Critics have also accused Elfath of allowing Messi to influence games through repeated protests and of consistently making key decisions that favored the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. Those perceptions, fair or not, have fueled the backlash following FIFA’s announcement.

Spain match remains a talking point

Elfath also faced heavy criticism for his handling of Spain’s group-stage match against Uruguay earlier in the tournament.

He was accused of allowing Uruguay’s physical style to go largely unchecked for long stretches before finally sending off Cabobbio much later than many observers believed he should have. The officiating frustrated Spain’s players throughout the contest and became one of the tournament’s most debated refereeing performances.

England will now hope for a very different display. Standing in its way is a battle-tested South American team led by Messi, with a referee whose previous performances have already become a major storyline before the semifinal has even begun.

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