FIFA has come under fire once again during the World Cup for appointing referee Ismail Elfath to officiate England's semi-final clash with Argentina. The American official was selected to oversee the match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, just days before the fixture. However, Elfath struggled to maintain control as tensions flared between the two sides.
Elfath's Controversial Officiating
From the opening exchanges, the historic backdrop of the rivalry added extra fire to the players' challenges. Despite a succession of niggly fouls and strong tackles, Elfath refrained from issuing yellow cards early on. He handed out several verbal warnings before finally booking Elliot Anderson, who clashed twice with Enzo Fernandez after the Chelsea midfielder appeared to elbow him in the neck. Anderson later caught Lionel Messi with a high challenge.
Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers were also targeted by multiple Argentina players. Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was cautioned for pulling Bellingham's shirt. Fans watching at home expressed outrage at Elfath's handling of the game and questioned FIFA's decision to appoint him.
Fan Backlash on Social Media
One user on X wrote: “Did this referee forget his cards or? This referee is a joke, hello?!” Another added: “Ten minutes in, it has been proven that handing the match to Elfath—the worst referee of the entire World Cup—was a grave mistake.”
The criticism adds to ongoing scrutiny of FIFA's referee selections during the tournament. More updates on this breaking story will follow as details emerge.
