Ivan Barton gained notoriety for his officiating during the World Cup group stage game between Paraguay and Turkey. However, his presence was once again in the spotlight during the semi-final match between France and Spain, which ended with a surprising 0-2 scoreline in favor of Spain.
In the ninth minute, Barton penalized Adrien Rabiot for a foul on Dani Olmo just outside the penalty area, issuing a yellow card to Rabiot. As the Spanish players prepared for the free kick and the French set up a defensive wall, something seemed off.
Referee Blunder at the World Cup: Missing Free Kick Spray
Spanish forward Mikel Oyarzabal looked puzzled, mimicking a spray motion while glancing questioningly at the referee. Even ZDF commentator Gari Paubandt chimed in with confusion: “What’s going on here?”
The answer was simple: the free kick spray was missing. Referee Barton, unable to hide a smile, waited as the Fourth Official rushed onto the pitch to hand him the spray. This allowed for the wall’s distance to be accurately marked.
Barton’s Highlights at the World Cup
Barton made headlines earlier in the group stage match between Paraguay and Turkey (1-0) due to his firm approach and consistent application of the rules. He became the first referee to show a red card for a player covering their mouth, Miguel Almirón, which quickly went viral.
During the semi-final, Barton was at the center of attention once again. Following a poor clearance attempt by Lucas Digne, who inadvertently fouled opponent Lamine Yamal instead of clearing the ball, Barton pointed straight to the penalty spot. Oyarzabal converted the penalty, giving the European champions a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute, and Pedro Porro sealed the match with a goal in the 58th minute.
