FIFA has made a drastic change for the World Cup semi-finals, moving Video Assistant Referees (VAR) on-site to the stadiums following mounting criticism over refereeing standards. For England's semi-final against Argentina, VAR officials will be located inside the venue in Atlanta, while the France vs Spain match in Dallas will also have on-site VAR.
Reason for the Change
The decision comes after high-profile incidents during the quarter-finals, including England having a penalty overruled despite Djed Spence appearing to be fouled in the box, and Egypt having a goal disallowed for a foul in the build-up. Prior to the quarter-finals, VAR officials worked from a central hub at the International Broadcast Centre in Dallas, regardless of the match location.
During the quarter-finals, FIFA trialled on-site VAR at a handful of matches. Now, for the semi-finals, the primary VAR and reserve VAR will be at each venue to act as a safety net in case of communication or technical difficulties with the Dallas hub.
Impact and Reactions
Dan Hunt, owner of FC Dallas and FIFA World Cup Organising Committee member, commented: "There's a lot of drama that unfolds in these games. And look, when you are asking only four officials to manage what's going on on the field, it's very difficult on a field that's much bigger than an American football field. I'm glad that there's gonna be on-site. I don't know what that communication's gonna look like."
This move represents a significant shift in how the tournament's review system functions, as FIFA seeks to improve technical resilience and restore confidence in officiating ahead of the high-stakes fixtures.
Officials Appointed
Ivan Barton has been appointed referee for the Spain vs France semi-final, assisted by David Moran of El Salvador and Antonio Pupiro of Nicaragua. Poland's Tomasz Kwiatkowski, who led the VAR team for the 2022 World Cup final, will serve as lead VAR official, backed by Dutch official Dennis Higler and Mexico's Guillermo Pacheco.
Barton made headlines earlier in the tournament by issuing the first red card for mouth-covering when he dismissed Paraguay's Miguel Almiron.
