FIFA has chosen an all-Argentine team to handle the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final match between France and Morocco. This match is set for Thursday at Boston Stadium in Massachusetts, USA.
This choice has sparked reactions from football fans who worry about possible bias.
FIFA announced that Facundo Tello will be the centre referee for the match in a post on X this Tuesday.
Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade will act as the assistant referees. Dario Herrera has been named the fourth official, and Cristian Navarro will serve as the reserve assistant referee.
In the post, FIFA stated, "The match officials for @FIFAWorldCup match 97 have been appointed. Facundo Tello will serve as the centre referee. Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade will be the assistant referees. And Dario Herrera as the fourth official, with Cristian Navarro as reserve assistant referee."
These appointments have stirred debate online. Some fans are questioning the choice because Argentina is still in the tournament. They could meet either France or Morocco in later rounds if they advance.
However, FIFA has a long-standing rule of using officiating teams from the same country. They do this as long as those referees do not officiate matches involving their own national teams.
Since the World Cup started in 2026 across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, FIFA has stuck to using referee crews from the same nationality. This has been the case in both the group stage and knockout rounds, with no reports of referees officiating matches involving their own country.
Tello's appointment comes at a time when officiating decisions are under heavy scrutiny. Many calls have caused heated discussions among players, coaches, and fans.
One major incident involved US forward Folarin Balogun. He received a straight red card and was automatically suspended for one match. But FIFA later lifted the suspension, allowing him to play in his country’s Round of 16 match.
This decision drew criticism from some football stakeholders who questioned how consistent the disciplinary process is.
Tello is familiar with controversy. He is known as one of South America's strictest referees. He made headlines for giving a record 10 red cards in the 2022 Trofeo de Campeones final between Boca Juniors and Racing Club after a mass confrontation.
He also made news during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar when he sent off Morocco forward Walid Cheddira after Morocco's quarter-final win over Portugal. This decision received mixed reactions.
Despite the worries about using an all-Argentine officiating crew, FIFA’s rules allow officials from countries still in the competition to referee other matches. They just cannot officiate games involving their own national teams.
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