François Letexier refereed Tuesday's World Cup round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt, won by Argentina with a score of 3-2. The presence of a French referee for an Argentina match was not considered problematic, despite the sporting rivalry between Les Bleus and Argentinians for several years.
The situation would have been different with an English referee. In the referee appointment process, FIFA considers sporting criteria, but also geopolitical factors. For this reason, an English referee is not selected to officiate an Argentina match in the World Cup. The same logic applies in the other direction: an Argentinian referee cannot be appointed for an England match.
The ever-present weight of the Falklands War
This unwritten rule is a direct reference to the Falklands War, a conflict between the United Kingdom and Argentina in 1982. The two countries fought over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. The war ended in a British victory after 74 days of fighting. The human cost remains high: 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British soldiers, and three islanders lost their lives. More than forty years later, this conflict continues to strain relations between the two countries, including in international football.
Anthony Taylor ruled out of the 2022 final
This caution had already had consequences during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. English referee Anthony Taylor had been considered to officiate the final, but the Argentina-France match made his appointment impossible. FIFA did not want to entrust a final involving Argentina to an English referee. The choice ultimately fell on Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, who had officiated the final won by Argentina against France on penalties after a 3-3 draw. This appointment prevented any controversy related to the referee's nationality.
Referees removed in case of direct risk
FIFA also applies another rule to its appointments: a referee cannot officiate a match involving their own national team. Nor can they be appointed to a match whose outcome could directly influence their country's progress, particularly during the group stage. This policy aims to limit suspicions of conflicts of interest. Therefore, referee selection is not based solely on skill level or experience. It also depends on the political, historical, and sporting context surrounding the teams involved.
Collina and the arbitration panel decide
The appointments are managed by FIFA's refereeing team, headed by Pierluigi Collina. This body decides which referees will officiate each match, evaluating performance, nationality, the teams' record, and the potential for controversy. For Argentina, the rule remains clear in practice: no English referees at the World Cup. The memory of the Falklands War continues to preclude any appointment that could reignite historical tensions between Buenos Aires and London.
