News
Howard Webb: Balogun red card controversy fuels conspiracy theories
Howard Webb says the controversy over Folarin Balogun's red card will make referees' jobs harder and opens the door to unfounded conspiracy theories.
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#Referees
News
Former Premier League Referee Anthony Taylor Discusses Retirement and
In a recent episode of Football Daily, Dan Roan interviews Anthony Taylor about his retirement from refereeing, his new role developing referees in Turkey, and the pressures of officiating at all levels. Taylor also shares insights on World Cup rule changes and his final match between Portugal and Spain.
News
Anthony Taylor retires from professional officiating
Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement from professional officiating, calling it an immense privilege.
News
Referee Anthony Taylor steps down from elite officiating
Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has announced he is stepping away from elite-level officiating, citing intense pressure and constant scrutiny as he looks to the next chapter of his career.
Opinion
Former World Cup official rejects conspiracy theories over Argentina
A former assistant referee at two World Cups dismisses claims that FIFA favours Lionel Messi and Argentina, asserting that officials operate independently and without bias. He warns that such accusations lead to abuse against referees and their families.
Matches
Slavko Vincic to Referee World Cup Final Between Spain and Argentina
Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic has been appointed to officiate the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. His assistants are Tomaz Klancnik and Andraz Kovacic, with Adham Makhadmeh as fourth official.
News
Deschamps Questions Referee's Level for World Cup Semi-Final
France coach Didier Deschamps questioned whether the referee has the required level to officiate a World Cup semi-final.
News
Dutch referee Rob Dieperink dies after being dropped from World Cup
Dutch football referee Rob Dieperink has died at age 38, weeks after being removed from World Cup officiating following a UK police investigation into a sexual assault allegation that was dropped due to lack of evidence. The KNVB expressed shock and sadness, while his cause of death remains undisclosed.
News
Collina defends World Cup referees after Egypt complaint
FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina says 'nobody can question the integrity' of World Cup match officials after Egypt filed a complaint over officiating in their 3-2 loss to Argentina. Collina backed the VAR decisions that overturned an Egypt goal and allowed Argentina's winner.
Players
Bellingham avoids referee comments to stay eligible for next match
Jude Bellingham declined to comment on the referee, stating he wants to play in the next match. The brief statement suggests caution to avoid disciplinary action.
Matches
Tuchel slams World Cup referees after England's win over Mexico
England head coach Thomas Tuchel criticized World Cup referees as 'just not good enough' after a dramatic last-16 win over Mexico, which saw a red card and a controversial penalty. Tuchel's comments came after a VAR review overturned a non-foul call, leading to a penalty against England.
Matches
England-Croatia referee Turpin once called 'Grade E' by Tuchel
Clement Turpin will referee England's World Cup opener against Croatia. The French official was previously labeled a 'Grade E' referee by Thomas Tuchel after a Champions League match. Despite criticism, Turpin is considered one of Europe's top referees, having officiated major finals.
News
VAR diving decision at World Cup wrong despite feeling right
A VAR review at the World Cup overturned a yellow card for a US player and booked Paraguay's Miguel Almiron for diving. However, sources say the decision was legally incorrect under IFAB rules, even though it punished simulation.
Matches
Injured referee Michael Oliver to miss World Cup match
English referee Michael Oliver has been ruled out of his first match at the 2026 World Cup due to injury. He was replaced by French official Francois Letexier for the Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador group stage match. FIFA expects Oliver to be available for selection in the coming days.
News
Referee Denied Entry to US Raises Questions About World Cup Control
Somalian referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States ahead of the World Cup, sparking concerns about visa issues for staff and supporters. The incident raises questions about FIFA's control over its own tournament.
Matches
FIFA Appoints Match Officials for World Cup Opening Matches
FIFA has appointed match officials for the first four matches of the FIFA World Cup. The referees and assistants will oversee the tournament's opening fixtures, setting the standard for officiating.