Disputes regarding refereeing continue ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After questions arose about VAR decisions in the match between Argentina and Egypt, a new tension was created by a FIFA decision. For the game between France and Morocco, which will take place in Boston on Thursday, FIFA has appointed the entire refereeing team from Argentina.
Uniqueness of the Referee Appointment
This is the first time in the 2026 World Cup that the entire official referee team will consist of representatives from one country. This situation has sparked active discussions among football experts and social media users. The reason for this dispute lies in the fact that France is considered the main contender for victory in the tournament, and the rivalry between the two countries remains relevant after the 2022 World Cup final.
Composition of the Referee Brigade
According to FIFA information, the head referee will be 44-year-old Tello. He will be accompanied by assistants Juan Pablo Belati and Gabriel Chade. Dario Perera has been appointed as the fourth official referee, and Cristian Navarro as the reserve assistant, and all of them represent Argentina. Thus, the entire refereeing staff for the match will be Argentine.
Context After the Egypt Disputes
This appointment came shortly after Egypt raised serious questions about the refereeing following Argentina's dramatic 3-2 victory. Egypt accused French referee François Letxier of bribery in connection with several VAR decisions. Because of this previous incident, the new FIFA decisions are also raising suspicions.
Coaches' and Players' Comments
France's head coach Didier Deschamps refused to give more importance to this dispute. He stated: 'We must deal with this. I trust the referees. Our confrontation is with Morocco, not with the referees.' Nevertheless, he also slightly mocked the critics, noting: 'I hope our referees are as good as Mr. Letxier.'
France's reserve goalkeeper, Robin Risser, also supported the referees, stating that despite some dislike after last World Cup's final between France and Argentina, the presence of these referees means they are worthy of conducting matches of this level.
Morocco's Position
The Moroccan coach also declined to raise questions about the FIFA decision. He noted: 'We want experienced referees, and we have received them. The previous match against the Netherlands was with Dutch referees, and they did an excellent job. The referees try to give their best, so we have no concerns.'
He added that Argentine referees rarely issue yellow cards, which may affect the match tactics.
Opportunity to Rectify the Score
This match is not just a quarter-final, but also a chance to settle old scores. In the 2022 World Cup semi-final, France stopped Morocco's historic run with a score of 2-0. Now, four years later, the Atlas Lions have a great chance to get revenge and reach the semi-finals for the second time in a row. However, before the game starts, the biggest discussion is not about the players, but about the referees. Now all attention will be focused on whether this entirely Argentine refereeing team can answer all arising questions with impartial execution, or if the refereeing dispute at the World Cup will deepen even further.
