Alan Shearer has voiced serious concerns about the officiating ahead of England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina, casting doubt on referee Ismail Elfath and the use of VAR. The former England striker, who will provide co-commentary for the BBC during the match, fears that a refereeing decision or VAR intervention could prove costly for Thomas Tuchel's side as they seek to reach the final for the first time since 1966.
Shearer's Apprehension Over Referee and VAR
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer said: "I'm slightly concerned that a refereeing decision or VAR could cost us against Argentina because I think the narrative from the referees and the VAR from the start of the tournament to now has changed massively." He pointed to a France match where Mbappé was fouled and the referee, after being sent to the screen, stuck with his decision despite it appearing a clear penalty. "That has totally changed over the last 10 days, two weeks, the longer the tournament's gone on," Shearer added.
Shearer also highlighted controversial decisions that have favored Argentina, particularly a disallowed Egyptian goal in a previous match. "I thought that was nonsense. It is a bit of a concern when playing them," he said.
Referee Ismail Elfath's Record
Ismail Elfath, a Moroccan-American official, will take charge of his fourth match at the tournament. He has previously officiated Holland vs Japan, Spain's narrow victory over Uruguay in the group stage, and Brazil's elimination by Norway. So far, he has issued seven yellow cards, one red card, and awarded two penalties. Notably, Lionel Messi has tasted victory in every match Elfath has overseen, including the 2022 World Cup final where Elfath served as fourth official.
Historical Context and Political Tensions
England and Argentina share a turbulent history on and off the pitch, with incidents like Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" in 1986 and David Beckham's red card in 1998. Political tensions, partly stemming from the Falklands War, mean that English referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, as well as Argentine Facundo Tello, are not permitted to officiate matches involving these nations. Instead, an American team of officials will take charge, with Italian officials Maurizio Mariani and Daniele Bindoni serving as fourth official and reserve assistant referee.
VAR Controversy in Previous Matches
VAR proved decisive in England's quarter-final against Norway, where Djed Spence's penalty appeal was overruled by French referee Clement Turpin, who judged that the Tottenham full-back had initiated contact. This decision has added to Shearer's concerns about the consistency of officiating in high-stakes matches.
England will face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, with a place in the World Cup final at stake. The Three Lions are seeking to avenge their defeats in the 2021 and 2024 finals against Italy and Spain, respectively.
