England and Argentina will face off in the World Cup semi-final, but the match is already embroiled in controversy over officiating decisions and perceived biases. English referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor will not officiate the semi-final due to FIFA rules preventing them from overseeing matches involving their home country. This means Oliver, who has officiated four matches so far, will miss out on a potential $100,000 bonus for reaching the final.
Meanwhile, allegations of favoritism toward Argentina have intensified, with critics pointing to several controversial VAR decisions and incidents. Former England captain Alan Shearer warned that a refereeing decision or VAR call could cost England a spot in the final, citing inconsistent officiating. Argentina has faced accusations of benefiting from questionable calls, including a missed red card for Lionel Messi after a stamp on Algeria’s Aissa Mandi and a disputed second yellow card for Switzerland’s Breel Embolo in the quarter-finals.
The controversy has fueled conspiracy theories, with some fans suggesting FIFA is favoring Argentina. Memes and social media posts depict FIFA president Gianni Infantino supporting Messi, though no evidence supports these claims. FIFA has denied any bias, but the allegations persist, with teams like Algeria, Austria, Egypt, and Switzerland lodging formal complaints over officiating.
The semi-final also carries geopolitical weight, as England and Argentina have a long-standing rivalry stemming from the 1982 Falklands War. The match will be officiated by Major League Soccer referee Ismail Elfath and his VAR team, adding further scrutiny to their decisions.