Paraguayan Fans Flood Referee's Social Media with Memes After Controversial Match

Following a contentious World Cup 2026 match between Paraguay and Turkey, Paraguayan football fans have taken to social media to express their displeasure with referee Iván Barton. The online backlash, filled with memes and commentary, targeted Barton after his decisions during the game, which many felt favored the Turkish team.

The fans' indignation was particularly focused on the expulsion of Paraguayan player Miguel Almirón. What began as protests against the referee's calls quickly transformed into a display of Paraguayan humor and irony online. Social media platforms were inundated with comments featuring Paraguayan flags, typical phrases in Guaraní, and even declaring Barton 'Judas Kai,' a figure from local folklore, in jest for the San Juan festivities.

This digital 'bardo,' as it's known locally, saw fans playfully engaging with Barton's posts, leaving comments ranging from Paraguayan slang and memes to seemingly out-of-context remarks like asking for a borrowed thermos back. The referee, who also officiated at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, now finds his social media photos filled with Paraguayan national symbols, a testament to the passionate, and sometimes humorous, reaction of the fanbase.