England supporters have voiced their frustration with referee Ismail Elfath following Argentina’s 2-1 victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal, accusing the match official of making decisions that favored Lionel Messi‘s side.

The controversy quickly spread across social media after several physical challenges went unpunished and television cameras captured Messi speaking with the referee at halftime.

The semifinal in Atlanta featured a series of hard tackles from both teams, with the referee issuing four yellow cards during the match. Three of those cautions were shown to Argentina players. Despite Argentina receiving more bookings, many England fans argued that several challenges warranted harsher punishment.

One incident that drew particular attention came in the first half, when Enzo Fernández appeared to catch Elliot Anderson in the face with his elbow. Some England supporters believed the challenge deserved a red card.

Social media was flooded with criticism after the match. “The referee favored Argentina,” one supporter wrote. Another commented: “Messi always seems to benefit whenever this referee is in charge.”

England supporters became even more frustrated after television cameras showed Messi walking alongside referee Ismail Elfath and speaking with him as both headed toward the tunnel at halftime. The footage quickly circulated online, prompting speculation among some fans that the Argentina captain was attempting to influence the referee’s decisions before the second half.

However, there is no evidence that the conversation affected the officiating, and interactions between players and referees during matches are relatively common.

Some fans also pointed to Elfath’s previous officiating record involving Inter Miami, Messi’s club team. Before the World Cup semifinal, the American referee had officiated four Inter Miami matches, all of which ended in victories for the MLS club, including the Leagues Cup final. Although supporters cited that statistic while questioning his impartiality, it does not by itself indicate bias or wrongdoing.

Regardless of the debate surrounding the officiating, Messi delivered another influential performance. The 39-year-old did not score but provided two assists setting up Enzo Fernández for Argentina’s equalizer before delivering a stoppage-time cross for Lautaro Martínez’s winning header. The victory booked Argentina’s place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, where they will face Spain in what is expected to be Messi’s final World Cup appearance.

While England fans continue to question several refereeing decisions, no official complaints or disciplinary actions regarding the match have been announced.

Sources: Znews