Shearer warns refereeing to decide England-Argentina semi

Former England captain Alan Shearer has voiced significant concerns over officiating ahead of England's World Cup semifinal against Argentina on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Atlanta, warning that a refereeing decision or VAR intervention could decide the high-stakes match. Shearer, who will be providing commentary for the BBC, specifically highlighted the appointment of Moroccan-American MLS referee Ismail Elfath and a perceived shift in how video review technology has been applied as the tournament has progressed.

Shearer pointed to what he views as inconsistent officiating in recent matches, citing a France game where he believed a clear penalty for Kylian Mbappé was not given despite a VAR review. He also expressed amazement at decisions he felt benefited Argentina, notably a disallowed goal for Egypt during their round of 16 match. "I thought that was nonsense," Shearer said in an interview with Betfair. "It is a bit of a concern when playing them."

The 44-year-old referee Elfath brings a notable record into the contest, having served as the fourth official for Argentina's penalty shootout victory over France in the 2022 World Cup final. Furthermore, Lionel Messi has won all...