Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton was left red-faced during France's World Cup semi-final against Spain after forgetting the vanishing spray. The incident occurred when Spain had a free-kick in a dangerous position, with Mikel Oyarzabal complaining about Les Bleus' wall creeping forward, demanding a line to be drawn to mark their position.
Embarrassing Delay
The 35-year-old looked bemused and slightly embarrassed as he glanced over at the touchline with the fourth official handing over the bottle. The free-kick ultimately came to nothing, but the delay spanned over a minute for the officials' misdemeanour.
Impact on the Match
According to ITV, Barton needed support from the fourth official after forgetting his vanishing spray. The incident drew attention during the high-stakes semi-final, but Spain failed to capitalize on the opportunity. The match continued without further incident, though the blunder was widely noted by commentators and fans.
