Why can't Michael Oliver referee the World Cup final? | OneFootball

FIFA’s conflict-of-interest rules mean the Englishman is barred from overseeing Sunday’s showpiece

English referee Michael Oliver’s duties at this year’s World Cup are done after FIFA’s protocols rule that he cannot referee Sunday’s final - even if England did not reach it.

The Three Lions face off against Argentina tonight and both Oliver and fellow English referee Anthony Taylor are unable to officiate that game due to England’s participation.

FIFA’s rules state officials cannot referee a game involving their home nation, but, perhaps more surprisingly, neither Oliver nor Taylor can oversee Sunday’s final either.

This is because neither can officiate Argentina’s games, owing to England’s conflict with the nation - the Falklands War in 1982.

The Falklands War was an undeclared conflict over the ownership of the Falkland Islands.

The Islands had been a British Crown colony since 1841 and many of its citizens in 1982 descended from British settlers. Therefore, they favoured British sovereignty.

The conflict arose when Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands on April 2 1982. The South American nation claimed ownership of the Islands.

Then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher authorised the Royal Navy to liberate the Island. The war ended on June 14 when Argentina surrendered and returned control to Britain. 907 people were killed in the conflict.

Despite the restoration of diplomatic relations in 1989, neither country has acceded to the other’s claim for ownership.

Ruled out: Anthony Taylor

AFP/Getty

With this history, FIFA deems it a conflict of interest for English referees - like Oliver and Taylor - to officiate games involving Argentina. The same applies to Argentine referees and England games.

Ismail Elfath will take charge of England’s semi-final against Argentina. The official for Sunday’s final has yet to be confirmed.

Referees are also not permitted to take charge of games that could directly impact on their nation.

For example, neither Oliver nor Taylor could take charge of Ghana vs Panama, as both sides were in England’s group. In addition, neither could have officiated Argentina vs Switzerland in the quarter-final, as their next opponent would have been England.

Oliver has officiated four matches at the 2026 World Cup, most recently taking charge of Spain’s 2-1 quarter-final victory over Belgium.

He oversaw three matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has been a UEFA elite referee - the highest classification for a referee - since 2018.

Taylor refereed Spain’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the round of 16 and three games at the tournament overall. He also officiated two games in Qatar.

Prior to England’s match-up with Argentina, Oliver and Taylor would have hoped to become the first Englishman since Howard Webb - current head of refereeing body PGMOL - to officiate a World Cup final.

Webb did so in 2010, overseeing Spain’s 1-0 victory over the Netherlands and became the third to do so; William Ling in 1954 and Jack Taylor in 1974 achieved the same feat.

England and Argentina face off tonight in Atlanta, Georgia, with kick off at 8pm BST.

The victors will face Euro 2024 champions Spain, who dispatched France 2-0 on Tuesday evening in the first semi-final.