FIFA cannot select a referee from South America or Central America as they have with France-Spain. For full impartiality they cannot choose a ref from Spain, nor any Spanish-speaking country.
Argentina many would say, have already had many decisions in their favour in this tournament and FIFA will make it into a farce if they did not pick a neutral ref.
Maybe a German ref would be fair???
The refs Moroccan .
Quote from: Dr Know on July 14, 2026, 07:34:30 AMThe refs Moroccan .
Not sure that's going to be enough to satisfy Nick, Dr Know. Can you supply us with holiday destinations for the last ten years. Opticians appointments and any parking or speeding fines.
The referee is Elfath from the USA.
Match #102
Semifinals
15 July 2026, 21:00 CET
Atlanta Stadium
ENGLAND - ARGENTINA
Referee: Ismail Elfath USA
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA
Fourth Official: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Reserve AR: Daniele Bindoni ITA
Could we not have a Russian linesman just
for this one game.
Quote from: FFC007 on July 14, 2026, 11:11:22 AMThe referee is Elfath from the USA.
Match #102
Semifinals
15 July 2026, 21:00 CET
Atlanta Stadium
ENGLAND - ARGENTINA
Referee: Ismail Elfath USA
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA
Fourth Official: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Reserve AR: Daniele Bindoni ITA
The ref was born Casablanca, which I believe is in Morocco !
A US ref? That doesn't bode well as far as I can see. Infantile has a word with the Orange one who makes a call to the ref to ensure Messi gets his final.
Quote from: Dr Know on July 14, 2026, 12:48:39 PMQuote from: FFC007 on July 14, 2026, 11:11:22 AMThe referee is Elfath from the USA.
Match #102
Semifinals
15 July 2026, 21:00 CET
Atlanta Stadium
ENGLAND - ARGENTINA
Referee: Ismail Elfath USA
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA
Fourth Official: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Reserve AR: Daniele Bindoni ITA
The ref was born Casablanca, which I believe is in Morocco !
Of all the games in all the world (cup) he had to ref ours.
Quote from: cookieg on July 14, 2026, 01:27:04 PMA US ref? That doesn't bode well as far as I can see. Infantile has a word with the Orange one who makes a call to the ref to ensure Messi gets his final.
Trump likes Ronaldo and Harry Kane.
Quote from: Nick Bateman on July 14, 2026, 02:37:11 PMQuote from: cookieg on July 14, 2026, 01:27:04 PMA US ref? That doesn't bode well as far as I can see. Infantile has a word with the Orange one who makes a call to the ref to ensure Messi gets his final.
Trump likes Ronaldo and Harry Kane.
FIFA like Messi.
FIFA have no missiles though.
Quote from: Nick Bateman on July 13, 2026, 11:11:43 PMFIFA cannot select a referee from South America or Central America as they have with France-Spain. For full impartiality they cannot choose a ref from Spain, nor any Spanish-speaking country.
Argentina many would say, have already had many decisions in their favour in this tournament and FIFA will make it into a farce if they did not pick a neutral ref.
Maybe a German ref would be fair???
Didn't one of Argentinas games, which they narrowly won, think vs their last opponent, have an entire ref team, including VAR of Argentinians..? Lol how that happened or was allowed to was farcical
Quote from: General on July 14, 2026, 04:11:09 PMDidn't one of Argentinas games, which they narrowly won, think vs their last opponent, have an entire ref team, including VAR of Argentinians..? Lol how that happened or was allowed to was farcical
Think he was Brazilian.
Quote from: Nick Bateman on July 14, 2026, 05:56:40 PMQuote from: General on July 14, 2026, 04:11:09 PMDidn't one of Argentinas games, which they narrowly won, think vs their last opponent, have an entire ref team, including VAR of Argentinians..? Lol how that happened or was allowed to was farcical
Think he was Brazilian.
No..
He just had a Brazilian!
Quote from: cookieg on July 14, 2026, 01:27:59 PMQuote from: Dr Know on July 14, 2026, 12:48:39 PMQuote from: FFC007 on July 14, 2026, 11:11:22 AMThe referee is Elfath from the USA.
Match #102
Semifinals
15 July 2026, 21:00 CET
Atlanta Stadium
ENGLAND - ARGENTINA
Referee: Ismail Elfath USA
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA
Fourth Official: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Reserve AR: Daniele Bindoni ITA
The ref was born Casablanca, which I believe is in Morocco !
Of all the games in all the world (cup) he had to ref ours.
FWIW, Elfath has been MLS referee of the year twice. I think he has had a good tournament so far.
Quote from: FulhamKC on July 14, 2026, 09:17:49 PMFWIW, Elfath has been MLS referee of the year twice. I think he has had a good tournament so far.
Sounds good. Most feel Argentina have had a lot of help to get this far. Hope they will get found out today. Its up to the English players.
Quote from: FulhamKC on July 14, 2026, 09:17:49 PMQuote from: cookieg on July 14, 2026, 01:27:59 PMQuote from: Dr Know on July 14, 2026, 12:48:39 PMQuote from: FFC007 on July 14, 2026, 11:11:22 AMThe referee is Elfath from the USA.
Match #102
Semifinals
15 July 2026, 21:00 CET
Atlanta Stadium
ENGLAND - ARGENTINA
Referee: Ismail Elfath USA
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA
Fourth Official: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Reserve AR: Daniele Bindoni ITA
The ref was born Casablanca, which I believe is in Morocco !
Of all the games in all the world (cup) he had to ref ours.
FWIW, Elfath has been MLS referee of the year twice. I think he has had a good tournament so far.
Don't get your hopes up, Messi has a 100% win when he has refereed him in the MLS.
Quote from: Thailand Mick on July 15, 2026, 04:11:43 AMQuote from: FulhamKC on July 14, 2026, 09:17:49 PMQuote from: cookieg on July 14, 2026, 01:27:59 PMQuote from: Dr Know on July 14, 2026, 12:48:39 PMQuote from: FFC007 on July 14, 2026, 11:11:22 AMThe referee is Elfath from the USA.
Match #102
Semifinals
15 July 2026, 21:00 CET
Atlanta Stadium
ENGLAND - ARGENTINA
Referee: Ismail Elfath USA
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA
Fourth Official: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Reserve AR: Daniele Bindoni ITA
The ref was born Casablanca, which I believe is in Morocco !
Of all the games in all the world (cup) he had to ref ours.
FWIW, Elfath has been MLS referee of the year twice. I think he has had a good tournament so far.
Don't get your hopes up, Messi has a 100% win when he has refereed him in the MLS.
In that case don't just stand there - someone get a call into ICE pronto and inform them of this guy's birth country!!!
Quote from: General on July 14, 2026, 04:11:09 PMQuote from: Nick Bateman on July 13, 2026, 11:11:43 PMFIFA cannot select a referee from South America or Central America as they have with France-Spain. For full impartiality they cannot choose a ref from Spain, nor any Spanish-speaking country.
Argentina many would say, have already had many decisions in their favour in this tournament and FIFA will make it into a farce if they did not pick a neutral ref.
Maybe a German ref would be fair???
Didn't one of Argentinas games, which they narrowly won, think vs their last opponent, have an entire ref team, including VAR of Argentinians..? Lol how that happened or was allowed to was farcical
they didnt, they were from South American countries though
Quote from: FulhamKC on July 14, 2026, 09:17:49 PMQuote from: cookieg on July 14, 2026, 01:27:59 PMQuote from: Dr Know on July 14, 2026, 12:48:39 PMQuote from: FFC007 on July 14, 2026, 11:11:22 AMThe referee is Elfath from the USA.
Match #102
Semifinals
15 July 2026, 21:00 CET
Atlanta Stadium
ENGLAND - ARGENTINA
Referee: Ismail Elfath USA
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA
Fourth Official: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Reserve AR: Daniele Bindoni ITA
The ref was born Casablanca, which I believe is in Morocco !
Of all the games in all the world (cup) he had to ref ours.
FWIW, Elfath has been MLS referee of the year twice. I think he has had a good tournament so far.
Thought the Anderson booking was harsh, considering what the Argentinians has dished out earlier. Think it was a tactical card as he has managed to stop Messi doing anything and make Anderson think twice before making any tackles.
In the end the referee was awful...I doubt his integrity.... how was simione not booked very early on? It was like france paraguay?
I expect to see a panorama expose in a year or two showing this was not at all honest.
I don't think the ref was awful, I thought he was decent. We lost fair and square, we weren't cheated out of it.
I can certainly agree they got away with a bit of 'argie bargie' in the first half but I think the ref wanted to keep the game flowing and keep ten men on the field.
Ultimately he booked them three times and us once. He booked both their cb's, giving us a great opportunity to get at them, which we didn't take advantage of.
The booking of Anderson was correct but it came after several aggressive challenges from Argentina which should IMO have resulted in bookings. Fernandez was very lucky not to have been booked, possibly twice and there he is popping up with the equaliser. It's been the same throughout the tournament. Argentina have committed the most fouls for the fewest bookings. Messi probably should have received a red card in the group stages.
Quote from: Andrew on July 16, 2026, 08:44:46 PMIn the end the referee was awful...I doubt his integrity.... how was simione not booked very early on? It was like france paraguay?
I expect to see a panorama expose in a year or two showing this was not at all honest.
The referee clearly overlooked all the fouls that Argentina gave out in the early stages because that is what his puppet masters instructed him to do.
He had guilt written all over his face.Another classic example of a corrupt establishment and their hidden Agendas, and the referee was complicit as other referees have been during this tournament, with the odious Infantino instrumental in providing a free ticket for Argentina to reach another Final, and it is not the first time.
Nevertheless in the end Tuchel did their job for them.
It has to be the worst decision since Abraham Lincoln said, I am fed up kicking around the house, let's go take in a show.