England fans cry foul over Messi-friendly referee in World Cup semi

The appointment of American referee Ismail Elfath to officiate the World Cup semifinal clash between Argentina and England has ignited fury among English fans, who allege bias and claim the tournament is being manipulated. Their ire stems from Elfath's officiating record, which shows that Lionel Messi's teams have never lost or drawn a match under his supervision, only wins.

Elfath, an American citizen born in Morocco, will be joined by fellow Americans Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins as his assistants for the high-stakes match. Online commentators have pointed out that Messi's teams boast a perfect 5-0 record in games officiated by Elfath. This includes the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, where Messi and Argentina defeated France on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw, with Elfath serving as the fourth official.

Following Messi's move to Inter Miami, Elfath, a two-time MLS Referee of the Year, also officiated the final of the inaugural Leagues Cup in 2023. In that match, Miami secured their first trophy by defeating Nashville SC, also via a penalty shootout.

During the current World Cup, Elfath has overseen two group-stage matches, Japan vs. Netherlands and Spain vs. Uruguay, as well as Norway's upset victory over Brazil in the round of 16. The winner of the Argentina-England semifinal will advance to face Spain in the final on Sunday in East Rutherford.