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in 2026 FIFA World Cup The semi-final between France and Spain produced several refereeing issues before Spain eventually secured a 2-0 victory to reach the final, but one of the most unexpected moments of the night came just eight minutes into the contest 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 Spain’s free-kick when he realized he didn’t have his white vanishing spray, prompting an awkward pause before fourth official Glenn Nyberg rushed onto the pitch to pass him the can. Although the delay lasted only a few moments, the bizarre scene quickly went viral on social media, becoming one of the lighter topics of the night in a match later dominated by far more controversial refereeing decisions.
Barton’s forgotten spray causes an embarrassing early delay
The incident happened after French midfielder Adrien Rabiot made a mistake on Dani Olmo’s attack in the eighth minute.Rabiot stepped on the foot of the Spanish midfielder, awarded a free kick in a dangerous position and received the first yellow card of the match.As Barton moved towards the edge of the French defensive wall to mark the required distance, he suddenly realized he had forgotten his vanishing spray.Unable to continue play, the 35-year-old smiled as he jogged towards the touchline as fourth official Glenn Nyberg entered the field carrying the spray before handing it to him.Players from both teams were left waiting as the officials dealt with the unexpected lapse, allowing the free-kick to be taken only after Barton had flagged down the defensive wall.The unusual moment immediately attracted the attention of television companies.Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former England striker Chris Sutton joked: “The referee forgot the spray. Come on, you’ve got two jobs. Remember your whistle and remember your spray.”
Another talking point in an eventful evening for officials
Although the forgotten spray briefly entertained fans, Barton’s performance would later come under much stricter 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. Although the decision divided opinion, it was allowed to stand without VAR intervention.Later in the half, confusion surrounded another incident when Barton initially awarded France a dangerous free-kick after he adjudged Fabián Ruiz to have 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)
However, following the advice of his assistant referee, Barton overturned the decision before the replay after replays showed that Ruiz had not made significant contact with Dembélé. The reversal briefly caused confusion among players and fans, with many mistakenly believing that VAR had intervened.France head coach Didier Deschamps later questioned whether Barton had performed at the level expected of a World Cup semi-final, describing his frustrations as “accumulating things” 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 debut at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and went on to officiate high-profile matches at the 2026 tournament. Prior to the semi-finals, Barton officiated the Round of 16 clash 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 clash. Paraguayan player Miguel Almirón was sent off in their match against Turkey after repeatedly covering his mouth while arguing with officials, which was deemed a breach of FIFA’s guidelines on transparency in communication.In addition to his World Cup duties, Barton has previously attracted attention for his firm handling of disciplinary situations, including holding a 2023 CONCACAF Nations League match between the United States and Mexico over homophobic chants from fans.While Spain’s disciplined performance eventually secured a comfortable 2-0 win and a place in the World Cup finals, Barton’s forgotten spray, along with several key decisions later in the game, ensured the officiating remained one of the biggest themes of the night.
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