British press cry foul as Messi’s favourite referee appointed for England-Argentina World Cup semi-final

FIFA’s decision to appoint American official Ismail Elfath for Wednesday’s blockbuster World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina has sparked a furious reaction from the British press, with accusations of favouritism and conspiracy theories dominating the back pages.

The 44-year-old Moroccan-born American will take charge of the mouth-watering clash at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with fellow Americans Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins serving as assistant referees and Italy’s Maurizio Mariani as fourth official. The winner will face either France or Spain in Sunday’s final.

But it is Elfath’s history with Argentina captain Lionel Messi that has set alarm bells ringing in the English media.

‘Messi gets his favourite referee’

The Daily Mail led the charge with a provocative headline declaring: “Lionel Messi gets his favourite referee for the World Cup semifinal, despite conspiracy theories claiming the tournament is rigged”. The newspaper pointed to Elfath’s ties with the Argentine superstar since Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, suggesting the appointment had revived suspicions of favouritism towards the defending champions.

The Sun focused on Elfath’s role in footballing history, branding him “the FIFA-appointed official who oversaw Lionel Messi’s greatest moment”. Elfath served as fourth official for the 2022 World Cup final – widely considered one of the greatest finals ever played – when Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after a breathless 3-3 draw, with Messi scoring twice.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror declared “Referee confirmed — Argentina’s wish granted”, reflecting a growing sense among English quarters that FIFA had handed a significant advantage to the South American champions.

A perfect record that fuels suspicion

The statistics behind the furore are striking. Since Messi moved to Major League Soccer in 2023, Elfath has officiated five matches involving the Argentine – and Messi has won every single one.

That run includes Elfath refereeing Messi’s first trophy for Inter Miami – a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Nashville SC in the 2023 Leagues Cup final, where Messi scored. In MLS fixtures alone, Elfath has taken charge of four Inter Miami matches featuring Messi, with the Florida club winning all of them.

The Sun did not mince words: “Lionel Messi has never lost a match officiated by the man taking control of England’s clash with Argentina”. The newspaper noted that “the appointment of official Ismail Elfath has done nothing to quell those voices” suggesting the Argentine is receiving special treatment at the tournament.

Controversy follows Argentina’s campaign

The appointment comes amid a tournament in which Argentina’s knockout victories have already generated significant debate over refereeing decisions. Egypt had a goal ruled out in their round-of-16 defeat, while Switzerland’s Breel Embolo was sent off following VAR intervention in the quarter-finals – decisions that prompted criticism from players and officials alike.

Messi himself escaped without a red card after a tackle on Algeria’s Aïssa Mandi during the group stage, a decision that further fuelled online speculation.

Who is Ismail Elfath?

Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Elfath moved to the United States at 18 after winning a US government-backed diversity visa lottery, arriving with just $200 to his name. He initially played as a striker for USL League Two side Austin Lightning but turned to refereeing after growing frustrated with the standard of local officiating.

He has been an MLS referee since 2012 and a FIFA-listed official since 2016, twice winning MLS Referee of the Year. At this World Cup, he has already officiated three matches – Japan’s 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, Spain’s 1-0 win over Uruguay, and Norway’s shock 2-1 victory over Brazil in the round of 16 – brandishing eight yellow cards and one red card in the process.

Doubts over experience

The Mirror also raised questions about whether Elfath can handle the pressure of a World Cup semi-final. Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey told the newspaper he would “have picked a more experienced referee” for such a high-stakes encounter.

England are chasing their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in 1966, while defending champions Argentina are aiming for back-to-back titles. The fixture carries deep historical resonance, with previous meetings marred by iconic controversies – from Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” in 1986 to David Beckham’s red card in 1998.

FIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has consistently rejected suggestions of bias, stressing that referees work independently and cannot be influenced by external pressure. But with Elfath’s appointment, the debate shows no sign of abating before a ball is even kicked in Atlanta.