FIFA bans English referees from refereeing Argentine national team games

According to Championat.

Why this matters

FIFA's decision to ban English referees, such as Майкл Оливер and Энтони Тейлор, from refereeing matches for the Argentine national team at the 2026 World Cup is a significant measure that reflects the geopolitical tensions between Argentina and the United Kingdom, resulting from the Falklands War. This policy seeks to ensure that arbitration decisions are not influenced by emotional or historical factors, promoting the integrity of international competitions.

Main conclusions

• FIFA prohibits English referees from refereeing Argentine national team games.
• FIFA has decided that English referees will not be able to referee games for the Argentine national team at the 2026 World Cup, due to geopolitical issues.
• Майкл Оливер remains central to Selección de Argentina's plans.

FIFA, the highest governing body in world football, has determined that English referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor will not be able to play in Argentine national team matches during the 2026 World Cup. The decision is a consequence of the geopolitical tensions remaining from the Falklands War, which took place between 1982 and 1983, which still impacts relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom. According to information from the newspaper The Independent, a FIFA spokesperson confirmed that the choice of referees takes into account not only technical quality, but also the geopolitical context that can influence the outcome of matches. This measure aims to ensure that referees are not placed in situations where their decisions could directly impact the interests of their national teams. For example, a referee who may have a historical or emotional involvement with the situation between countries will not be assigned to officiate a game involving one of those nations. However, this rule only applies to the early stages of the tournament, which means that a referee can be assigned to a game between two teams that do not involve Argentina, even if they may meet in the later stages of the competition.  A recent case that illustrates this policy was the appointment of an all-Argentine team of referees to referee the quarter-final match between France and Morocco. Although Argentina and France would only potentially meet in one final, FIFA considered that the situation did not generate a conflict of interest. The FIFA spokesperson also confirmed that, in fact, the consequences of the Falklands War are taken into account in refereeing decisions. This means that English referees are not only banned from refereeing Argentine national team games, but they will also not be able to act in matches whose results could affect Argentina's trajectory in the tournament. This approach is similarly applied to Argentine referees, who also have restrictions regarding games involving England. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, these decisions reflect theFIFA's need to maintain the impartiality and integrity of the tournament, avoiding any type of external influence that could undermine the fairness of the matches. The World Cup will be held in three countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada, and promises to be a competition full of rivalries and emotions, even more so with the peculiarities involving refereeing.

What happens next

Although the ban only applies to the initial phase of the tournament, it is possible that English referees will be selected for games that do not involve the Argentine team in later phases. FIFA will continue to assess the geopolitical context when appointing referees, which could impact the Argentine team and its potential opponents throughout the 2026 World Cup.

Frequently asked questions

What happened to the English referees at the 2026 World Cup?

FIFA has ruled that English referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor will not be able to officiate matches for the Argentine national team during the 2026 World Cup.

Who confirmed FIFA's decision on referees?

A FIFA spokesperson confirmed the decision to ban English referees from refereeing Argentine national team games.

Why did FIFA take this decision now?

The decision is a consequence of geopolitical tensions remaining from the Falklands War, which still impacts relations between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

What changes were implemented in the selection of referees?

FIFA now considers not only the technical quality of referees, but also the geopolitical context that can influence the outcome of matches.

Does this rule apply to all phases of the tournament?

No, this rule only applies to the initial phase of the tournament; Referees may be assigned to games not involving Argentina in the later stages.

Related Articles

• Мundial 2026
• Baltyka coach responds to Klopp's criticisms about the start of the World Cup
• Kai Havertz talks about his performance after scoring two goals against Curaçao
• Мundial 2026