Argentine referee Facundo Tello will take charge of France's quarter-final with Morocco and already finds himself at the centre of the latest refereeing controversy to hit World Cup 2026, before a ball has even been kicked.
Fifa has infuriated French fans and media by selecting Tello, as part of a fully Argentine five-man crew, for the clash in Boston on Thursday evening.
It marks the first time this tournament that every match official for a knockout fixture hails from the same nation, and comes at a time where accusations of favouritism towards Argentina are at their peak.
France vs Morocco LIVE: World Cup build-up after Fifa reject Olise appeal and Atlas Lions hit with injury blow
Holders Argentina controversially progressed to the quarter-finals after pulling off a miraculous late comeback against Egypt, winning 3-2 after trailing 2-0 to the Pharaohs, who had a goal controversially disallowed and protested angrily over a perceived foul in the build-up to Enzo Fernandez's stoppage-time winner.
Fifa has infuriated French fans and media by selecting Tello, as part of a fully Argentine five-man crew, for the clash in Boston on Thursday evening.
It marks the first time this tournament that every match official for a knockout fixture hails from the same nation, and comes at a time where accusations of favouritism towards Argentina are at their peak.
France vs Morocco LIVE: World Cup build-up after Fifa reject Olise appeal and Atlas Lions hit with injury blow
Holders Argentina controversially progressed to the quarter-finals after pulling off a miraculous late comeback against Egypt, winning 3-2 after trailing 2-0 to the Pharaohs, who had a goal controversially disallowed and protested angrily over a perceived foul in the build-up to Enzo Fernandez's stoppage-time winner.
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