‘You had one job’: Bizarre refereeing error leaves France v Spain World Cup semi-final in awkward pause

An assistant referee gives referee Ivan Barton of El Salvador a disappearing spray during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) The 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final between France and Spain saw some controversy for the referees before Spain eventually secured a 2-0 victory to reach the final, but one of the most unexpected moments of the evening came just eight minutes into the match when referee Iván Barton briefly stopped play after forgetting one of the most basic pieces of equipment needed to officiate the match. The Salvadoran official was preparing to take the free-kick for Spain when he realized he didn’t have his white vanishing spray, prompting an awkward pause before fourth official Glenn Nyberg rushed onto the field to hand him a can. Although the delay only lasted a few moments, the bizarre scene quickly went viral on social media and became one of the lighter points of the evening in a match later dominated by far more controversial refereeing decisions.

Barton’s forgotten spray causes a nasty early delay

The incident occurred after French midfielder Adrien Rabiot mistimed a challenge on Dani Olmo in the eighth minute.Rabiot stood on the boot of the Spanish midfielder, conceded a free kick in a dangerous position and received the first yellow card of the match.As Barton moved to the edge of the French defensive rampart to mark the required distance, he suddenly realized he had forgotten his vanishing spray.Unable to restart the game, the 35-year-old smiled as he walked to the sideline as fourth official Glenn Nyberg entered the field with a spray can before handing it out.Players from both teams were left waiting as the officials resolved the unexpected oversight and allowed the free kick only after Barton flagged the defensive line.The unusual moment immediately caught the attention of broadcasters.Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former England striker Chris Sutton joked: “The referee forgot his spray. Come on, you’ve got two jobs. Remember your whistle and remember your spray.”

Another talking point in a busy evening for officials

Although the forgotten spray briefly amused the fans, Barton’s performance would later come under much harsher scrutiny.Spain took the lead through Mikel Oyarzabal after Barton awarded a first-half penalty when Lucas Digne caught Lamine Yamal in the penalty area. While the decision divided opinion, it was allowed to stand without VAR intervention.There was confusion in another incident later in the half when Barton initially awarded France a dangerous free-kick after adjudging Fabián Ruiz had fouled Ousmane Dembélé on the edge of the box.

Spain’s Fabian Ruiz (8) protests against 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)

However, on the advice of his assistant referee, Barton overturned the decision before the restart after replays showed that Ruiz had not made meaningful contact with Dembély. The reversal briefly caused confusion among players and fans, with many mistakenly believing that VAR had intervened.France coach Didier Deschamps later questioned whether Barton had managed the match at the level expected of a World Cup semi-final, describing his frustration as “things piling up” rather than focusing solely on the penalty decision.

An experienced official with a rich 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 2022 and continued to officiate high-profile matches at the 2026 tournament. Prior to the semi-finals, Barton was in charge of the Round of 16 match between Colombia and Switzerland, further underscoring FIFA’s confidence 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 sent off in the match against Turkey after repeatedly covering his mouth during an argument with officials, which is considered a breach of FIFA’s rules on transparency in communication.In addition to his World Cup duties, Barton has previously attracted attention for his firm handling of disciplinary situations, including the halting of a 2023 CONCACAF Nations League match between the United States and Mexico due to homophobic chants from fans.While a disciplined display from Spain eventually secured a comfortable 2-0 victory and a place in the World Cup finals, Barton’s forgettable spray, along with some big decisions later in the game, ensured the celebration remained one of the biggest themes of the night.