Chemistry teacher turned referee Iván Barton appointed for World Cup semi-final between France and Spain
The Salvadoran referee, a chemistry teacher turned international arbiter, will take charge of the France vs Spain World Cup semi-final on Tuesday night at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The FIFA World Cup semi-final between France and Spain will be overseen by a chemistry teacher from Santa Ana, El Salvador. Iván Arcides Barton Cisneros, 35, has been appointed to officiate the match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with kick-off set for Tuesday night. A FIFA referee since 2018, Barton has already presided over three matches in this tournament and becomes the Central American official with the most World Cup appearances in history, reaching six total after his work in Qatar 2022.
This will be Barton's fourth match of the 2026 World Cup. He previously handled the group-stage fixtures Turkey vs Paraguay and Japan vs Sweden, followed by the round-of-16 clash Switzerland vs Colombia. His selection for a semi-final featuring two pre-tournament favourites signals the weight he has gained within FIFA's officiating hierarchy.
- Appointed FIFA international referee
- Officiates two matches at Tokyo 2020 Olympics
- Makes World Cup debut in Qatar, reaches round of 16
- Issues four red cards and abandons CONCACAF Nations League semi-final due to homophobic chants
- Applies 'Vinicius law' for the first time, sending off Paraguay's Miguel Almirón
- Takes charge of the France vs Spain World Cup semi-final in Dallas
The 'Vinicius law' and viral fame
Barton's opening match of this World Cup made headlines worldwide. During Turkey vs Paraguay on 20 June, he sent off Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almirón after a VAR review confirmed Almirón had covered his mouth while speaking to an opponent. FIFA introduced the regulation, nicknamed the "Vinicius law" after incidents in the Champions League, in April to penalise players who attempt to hide verbal abuse or discriminatory remarks on the pitch. Barton's firm call set a precedent for the tournament.
After Review, Number 10 Paraguay, cover his mouth, decision is red card.
The clipped, rhythmic phrasing Barton used on the microphone was clipped widely on social media and even remixed into a techno track. The incident also triggered consequences beyond the pitch: Paraguayan journalist Jorge "Chipi" Vera had his World Cup credential revoked by FIFA for serious insults in the aftermath.
Authority and track record
Barton's career numbers underline his experience. Between the Primera División of El Salvador, Concacaf competitions, a guest stint in the Saudi Pro League, and FIFA tournaments, he has officiated 312 professional matches since 2018, showing 1,418 yellow cards and 86 direct red cards for an average above four cautions per game. In this World Cup alone he has distributed ten bookings across three fixtures.
His authority in high-tension matches is well documented. During the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League semi-final between Mexico and the United States, Barton issued four red cards in the second half alone after a series of brawls. The players dismissed included Weston McKennie of Juventus, Sergiño Dest, then of Barcelona on loan at AC Milan, César Montes, then of Espanyol, and Gerardo Arteaga, then playing for Genk. Barton subsequently abandoned the match before full-time because of homophobic chants from the crowd.
A professor in the middle
Off the pitch, Barton holds a degree in Chemistry from the University of El Salvador and has taught Organic Chemistry at the institution. He also worked as an applications chemist and technical support specialist at InstruQuímica between 2017 and 2018. Earlier this June he began an MBA programme through Spain's Universidad Internacional de La Rioja. His path from the classroom to the sport's biggest stage has made him a source of national pride; Yamil Bukele, president of the Salvadoran Football Federation and brother of president-elect Nayib Bukele, publicly celebrated his designation.
Barton has encountered French players before. At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he sent off Randal Kolo Muani during France's 4-0 loss to Japan. He also refereed France's under-17 side against Brazil in the 2019 U-17 World Cup.
The officiating crew
FIFA confirmed a multinational team to support Barton. His compatriot David Moran will serve as first assistant referee and Nicaragua's Antonio Pupiro as second assistant. Sweden's Glenn Nyberg is the fourth official, with Mahbod Beigi, also Swedish, acting as the reserve assistant referee. The match at Dallas's 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium is the 38th meeting between the two European rivals, with victory securing a place in the World Cup final.
