adminBritish MP Urges FIFA to Replay England vs Argentina World Cup Semi-Final After Controversial Defeat
Calls for FIFA to replay the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina have intensified after a British Member of Parliament publicly questioned the officiating in the dramatic encounter.
Argentina booked their place in a second consecutive World Cup final with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Thomas Tuchel’s England at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday. Despite England taking the lead early in the second half through Anthony Gordon, the Three Lions were unable to hold onto their advantage as Argentina mounted a late comeback.
England’s cautious approach after going ahead has drawn heavy criticism. Tuchel’s tactical decision to sit deep invited relentless pressure, with England reportedly seeing only 12 percent possession between Gordon’s goal and Enzo Fernández’s equaliser in the 85th minute. Even US President Donald Trump reportedly weighed in by criticising England’s defensive tactics.
Argentina completed the turnaround just seven minutes later when Lionel Messi delivered a cross that Lautaro Martínez headed into the net to seal victory and send the reigning champions into another World Cup final.
Controversy Over Argentina’s Winner
The match has sparked widespread debate after many England supporters claimed Argentina’s winning goal should have been ruled out due to an alleged foul by Messi on Djed Spence during the build-up. The incident was not reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), fuelling anger among fans.
A five-minute compilation highlighting several controversial refereeing decisions has since gone viral on social media, with many users claiming England were treated unfairly throughout the match.
Among those voicing concern was Oliver Ryan, the Labour MP for Burnley, who suggested FIFA should order a replay under a different referee if it wished to uphold fairness and sporting integrity.
Former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Lord Alan Sugar also questioned whether FIFA should review the match, wondering if the governing body should consider stronger action over the disputed incidents.
Referee Faces Heavy Criticism
Much of the criticism has been directed at American referee Ismail Elfath, whose appointment for such a high-profile World Cup semi-final had already divided opinion before kick-off.
Although Elfath issued four yellow cards during the contest—three to Argentina and one to England—many supporters argued he was too lenient with Argentina, especially during the early stages when Lionel Scaloni’s side played with an aggressive edge.
Replay Highly Unlikely
Despite the growing frustration among England fans and public figures, there is virtually no prospect of FIFA ordering a replay. The result is expected to stand, leaving Argentina to prepare for Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
Victory would make Argentina the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully retain the FIFA World Cup.
England, meanwhile, must quickly regroup ahead of Saturday’s third-place playoff against France at Miami Stadium. A victory would secure England’s second-best finish at a World Cup, surpassed only by their historic triumph in 1966.
The Three Lions previously reached the semi-finals in both 1990 and 2018 but were beaten in the third-place matches by Italy and Belgium, respectively.
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