Advertisement
World Cup: Why English and Argentine referees are banned from each other’s matches
13th July, 2026 11:29 AM
The ongoing 2026 World Cup has seen referees’ decisions take centre stage in some of the big knockout games.
It has now been established that English referees will not be allowed to officiate either England or Argentina matches, with the rules also applying to Argentine officials, who are also excluded from English fixtures.
The two nations face off on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in the second semifinal of the World Cup.
As part of a strict oversight procedure and FIFA’s long-standing referee neutrality policy, match officials are not allowed to take charge of their own nations in order to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
According to FIFA, the objective is to eliminate any possible perception of bias while maintaining confidence in the integrity of officiating.
Furthermore, the rule extends to officials hailing from England and Argentina, owing to long-standing geopolitical tensions between the two nations.
Geopolitical issue
Officials from these countries cannot officiate any Argentina matches due to the political confrontation and sensitivity surrounding the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982.
The 74-day conflict resulted in hundreds of military casualties and remains a politically sensitive issue. Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the islands, with current President Javier Milei publicly maintaining the country’s stance.
EPL refs locked out?
This decision, therefore, locks out English referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor. The two English Premier League officials thus cannot officiate the final even if England fail to advance to the July 19, 2026, encounter at the New York Stadium.
Also Read: FIFA confirms match official for Spain vs France semifinal duel
Oliver officiated his seventh match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 when Spain locked horns with Belgium in Thursday’s quarterfinal in Los Angeles, becoming the English official with the most matches handled at a single World Cup.
Nonetheless, performance remains the biggest factor in deciding appointments, but neutrality also plays a major role.
This scenario also affected Anthony Taylor during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Despite being one of the tournament’s standout officials, he was unable to referee the final after Argentina advanced to face France.
