Deschamps: Was the match officiated at the level of a World Cup semi-final?

French national team coach Didier Deschamps expressed reservations about the standard of officiating in France’s World Cup semi-final against Spain, hinting that FIFA’s selection of Salvadoran referee Iván Barton to manage such a decisive and crucial match was inappropriate. When asked after the match whether his team had been affected by the penalty awarded against them, which led to the opening goal, Deschamps said: “I will pose a question and not answer it: Does this referee have the required standard to manage a World Cup semi-final?” He added: “I will not complain about the refereeing so as not to appear like a sore loser after the defeat, but I am merely raising the question.” The coach noted that his team’s performance was not at its best, explaining that the side was a step below its usual technical level, particularly because it faced a strong opponent that managed to impose its control and dictate the match more effectively. Deschamps emphasized that the primary responsibility lay with his own team, as the players did not deliver the expected performance, pointing out that the French national team lacked sufficient threat in attack and failed to pose the required danger to the opponent’s goal.