Pierluigi Collina Responds to Didier Deschamps’ Criticism of World Cup Referee

Pierluigi Collina responds to Didier Deschamps‘ criticism after the France manager questioned whether referee Iván Barton was the right choice to officiate the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal between France and Spain. FIFA‘s Chief Refereeing Officer issued a firm defence of the Salvadoran official, insisting that every referee selected for the tournament has earned their place through years of consistent performances at the highest level.

France were eliminated after a 2–0 defeat to Spain, and although Didier Deschamps admitted that his team was primarily responsible for the result, he raised doubts about whether Barton had the necessary level to manage a World Cup semifinal. Without identifying a specific decision, the French coach asked whether the referee was “qualified” for such an important match, comments that quickly attracted worldwide attention.

Collina Gives A Clear Answer

Asked about Deschamps’ remarks, Collina offered an immediate and unequivocal response.

“Yes, absolutely. Our referees are world class.”

The former World Cup Final referee explained that FIFA does not appoint officials to the latter stages of the tournament by chance. Every referee is monitored for years before the competition and is continuously assessed throughout the World Cup. Only those who consistently meet FIFA’s technical, physical and disciplinary standards remain eligible for knockout appointments.

How FIFA Selects World Cup Referees

Collina’s response also highlighted the extensive evaluation process behind every appointment.

Before the tournament began, FIFA selected 52 referees after several years of observation across domestic leagues, continental competitions and international matches. During the World Cup, every performance is analysed by referee observers, with assessments covering decision making, positioning, fitness, disciplinary control, teamwork and communication with the VAR officials.

That means a semifinal appointment reflects consistent performances rather than reputation alone.

Was Iván Barton The Right Choice?

The appointment of Iván Barton had already generated discussion before kickoff because several experienced European referees were unavailable due to nationality restrictions or previous appointments.

Despite the criticism after the match, many refereeing analysts considered Barton’s overall performance solid. The first-half penalty awarded to Spain for Lucas Digne’s foul on Lamine Yamal was widely viewed as a correct decision under the IFAB Laws of the Game, while no major VAR intervention proved necessary during the remainder of the match.

As with any World Cup semifinal, some disciplinary decisions have continued to divide opinion, but there has been no evidence that any officiating mistake directly changed the outcome of the match.

FIFA Continues To Defend Its Officials

Collina has consistently defended FIFA’s referees throughout the tournament whenever questions have been raised about controversial decisions.

Earlier in the competition, he stressed that constructive discussion about refereeing is part of football but rejected suggestions that FIFA officials are influenced by outside pressure. He warned that unfounded accusations can unfairly affect referees and their families, emphasising that integrity remains the foundation of FIFA’s refereeing programme.

His latest comments continue that message by making it clear that FIFA has full confidence in the officials selected for the World Cup.

VAR Verdict

Pierluigi Collina’s response leaves little room for doubt. FIFA stands firmly behind Iván Barton and believes the Salvadoran referee was fully qualified to officiate one of the biggest matches of the tournament.

Didier Deschamps was entitled to question the officiating after a painful defeat, but FIFA has made it equally clear that the referee’s appointment reflected years of assessment rather than a single decision.

Whether supporters agree with every call is another matter, but FIFA’s position remains unchanged: the officials chosen for the World Cup are considered among the best referees in world football.

Verdict: FIFA has publicly backed Iván Barton and rejected suggestions that he lacked the quality to referee a World Cup semifinal. The organisation continues to express full confidence in its referee selection process.