The 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final between France and Spain produced several refereeing talking points before Spain eventually secured a 2-0 victory to reach the final, but one of the evening’s most unexpected moments arrived just eight minutes into the contest when referee Iván Barton briefly halted play after forgetting one of the most basic pieces of equipment required to officiate a match. The Salvadoran official was preparing to manage a Spain free-kick when he realised he did not have his white vanishing spray, prompting an awkward pause before fourth official Glenn Nyberg rushed onto the pitch to hand him the can. Although the delay lasted only moments, the bizarre scene quickly went viral on social media, becoming one of the night’s lighter talking points in a match later dominated by far more controversial refereeing decisions.
Barton’s forgotten spray causes awkward early delay
The incident occurred after France midfielder Adrien Rabiot mistimed a challenge on Dani Olmo in the eighth minute.Rabiot stood on the Spain midfielder’s foot, conceding a free-kick in a dangerous position and receiving the game’s first yellow card.As Barton moved towards the edge of France’s defensive wall to mark the required distance, he suddenly realised he had forgotten his vanishing spray.Unable to restart play, the 35-year-old smiled as he jogged towards the touchline while fourth official Glenn Nyberg entered the field carrying the spray can before handing it over.Players from both teams were left waiting as the officials resolved the unexpected oversight, allowing the free-kick to proceed only after Barton had marked the defensive wall.The unusual moment immediately caught the attention of broadcasters.Commentating on BBC Radio 5 Live, former England striker Chris Sutton joked: “The referee has forgotten his spray. Come on, you have two jobs. Remember your whistle and remember your spray.”
Another talking point in an eventful evening for the officials
Although the forgotten spray briefly amused supporters, Barton’s performance would later come under much heavier scrutiny.Spain took the lead through Mikel Oyarzabal after Barton awarded a first-half penalty when Lucas Digne caught Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area. While the decision divided opinion, it was allowed to stand after no intervention from VAR.Later in the half, confusion surrounded another incident when Barton initially awarded France a dangerous free-kick after ruling that Fabián Ruiz had fouled Ousmane Dembélé on the edge of the box.
Spain’s Fabian Ruiz (8) protests to referee Ivan Barton, of El Salvador, during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Following advice from his assistant referee, however, Barton overturned the decision before the restart after replays showed Ruiz had not made meaningful contact with Dembélé. The reversal briefly sparked confusion among players and supporters, with many mistakenly believing VAR had intervened.France head coach Didier Deschamps later questioned whether Barton had officiated the match at the level expected of a World Cup semi-final, describing his frustrations as “an accumulation of things” rather than focusing solely on the penalty decision.
Experienced official with an eventful career
Born in Santa Ana, El Salvador, Barton previously worked as a professor of organic chemistry after earning a degree in chemical sciences before becoming one of CONCACAF’s leading referees.He made his FIFA World Cup debut in Qatar in 2022 and has continued to officiate high-profile matches at the 2026 tournament. Prior to the semi-final, Barton was in charge of the Round of 16 clash between Colombia and Switzerland, further underlining FIFA’s trust in his experience at the highest level.Earlier in this World Cup, Barton also made headlines after becoming the first referee at the tournament to send off a player for covering his mouth during a confrontation. Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón was dismissed in their match against Turkey after repeatedly covering his mouth while arguing with officials, an action deemed to be in breach of FIFA’s communication transparency guidelines.In addition to his World Cup assignments, Barton has previously attracted attention for his firm handling of disciplinary situations, including halting a 2023 CONCACAF Nations League match between the United States and Mexico due to homophobic chants from supporters.While Spain’s disciplined display ultimately secured a comfortable 2-0 victory and a place in the World Cup final, Barton’s forgotten spray, alongside several high-profile decisions later in the match, ensured the officiating remained one of the evening’s biggest talking points.
