FIFA defends semifinal referee after France’s Deschamps questions decision

By Karan Malhotra — 15 July 2026 — 3 min read

FIFA‘s director of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has defended Salvadoran official Ivan Barton following criticism from outgoing France coach Didier Deschamps. Deschamps publicly questioned the referee’s capability after France‘s 2-0 defeat to Spain in a World Cup semifinal match held in Arlington, Texas.

During his post-match comments, Deschamps was careful in his critique, stating that if he spoke out, he would appear to be a sore loser. However, he directly asked whether the referee was suitable for officiating a semifinal, mentioning a penalty decision and other aspects of the game. Deschamps clarified that he had no personal issue with the referee but urged others to consider the question.

Referee’s Performance Defended

Collina, a former World Cup final referee, responded directly to Deschamps’ query about the referee’s suitability, asserting, “Yes, absolutely. Our referees are world class.” This statement came after France‘s loss, which ended their bid for a third consecutive final in the tournament.

The primary point of contention revolved around a penalty awarded to Spain in the first half. Barton had judged Lucas Digne‘s challenge on Lamine Yamal to be a foul inside the box. Mikel Oyarzabal converted the penalty, giving Spain the lead. Later, Pedro Porro secured the win for Spain with a goal in the second half.

This is not the first instance where Collina has had to defend officials during the tournament. He previously supported a referee following a controversial match where Egypt lost to Argentina in the Round of 16. In that instance, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan had accused FIFA of favouring the defending champions.

Mbappe Takes Responsibility for France’s Performance

France captain Kylian Mbappe openly criticized his team’s tactical and technical shortcomings after their semifinal defeat. He acknowledged that the team “fell well short” of the required standards for a World Cup semifinal match. Mbappe specifically pointed to a lack of communication in their press and being outnumbered in midfield as key issues.

Spain secured their spot in the final with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro, demonstrating control over possession and tempo throughout the game. Mbappe took responsibility for the collective disappointment, admitting France‘s inability to execute their game plan.

Reflecting on the defeat, Mbappe noted that France struggled both tactically and technically against a Spanish side that dominated the midfield through players like Rodri and Fabian Ruiz. He highlighted the difficulty of being outnumbered in midfield against such opponents. Mbappe suggested that France should have implemented a man-to-man press to force Spanish players to run more.

Despite entering the contest with a strong record of six consecutive wins and 16 goals in the tournament, France found it challenging to impose their style of play. Mbappe revealed that their plan to press high and disrupt Spain‘s build-up did not materialize. He emphasized that failing to perform as required in a World Cup semifinal inevitably leads to defeat.

Mbappe also criticized his team’s execution in possession, stating that careless play prevented France from capitalizing on the limited opportunities they created. He acknowledged that they were too “sloppy technically” and could not effectively challenge Spain.

Spain took the lead in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal earned a penalty, which Mikel Oyarzabal converted. France‘s challenges increased when defender William Saliba was forced off due to injury before halftime. Despite substitutions made by coach Didier Deschamps, including Manu Kone, Desire Doue, and Rayan Cherki, Spain doubled their advantage after the hour mark when Pedro Porro scored.

Although France briefly threatened through Aurelien Tchouameni and Mbappe, Spain‘s defense remained strong, achieving its sixth clean sheet in seven matches during the tournament. Mbappe, who had eight goals before the semifinal, could not add to his tally. As captain, he accepted full responsibility for the team’s collective disappointment, stating, “We wanted to go to the final. We didn’t go.”

Deschamps confirmed after the defeat that he is stepping down as France manager after 14 years. France will now play in the third-place playoff on Saturday in Miami, facing the loser of the semifinal match between Argentina and England.