Ivan Barton, the referee from El Salvador, will officiate his third game at WC, Switzerland - Colombia in the Round of 16.
Match #96
Round of 16
7 July 2026, 22:00 CET
BC Place, Vancouver
SWITZERLAND - COLOMBIA
Referee: Ivan Barton SLV
Assistant Referee 1: David Moran SLV
Assistant Referee 2: Antonio Pupiro NCA
Fourth Official: Katia Garcia MEX
Reserve AR: Sandra Ramirez MEX
Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Pacheco MEX
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Armando Villarreal USA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Ivan Bebek CRO
Eagerly awaiting the expected deluge of comments that are always levied against non-UEFA Referees and the mental gymnastics associated with them.
ReplyDeleteLetexier
DeleteIt is Ivan Barton from El Salvador which is from CONCACAF who is the referee. Letexier isn't the referee in all the matches.
DeleteThe French is not non-Uefa
DeleteLet’s call it as it is - that is equally racist comment to those unfairly criticising non-UEFA refs. Stop being bias and focus on constrictive discussion.
DeleteGood luck to Barton!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to Barton
ReplyDeleteGood luck Ivan !
ReplyDeletegood luck Barton .
ReplyDeleteSo far keeping it low key with god pro-active refereeing. C7 being a handful and perhaps needs to be taken down a few pegs
ReplyDeleteThat image of Infantino. The look on his face. He looks embattled. worn down, and troubled.
ReplyDeleteAs the Spanish language saying goes, "dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres"
Which translates to "tell me who you hang out with, and I'll tell you who you are".
An excellent first "quarter" from Barton in a mainly football focussed game so far. Incredibly proactive and dynamic (I can not believe how well he covers the ground and is so proactive to any potential flashpoints), strong and soft body language and just has a natural air of confidence that comes across so well. Keep up the good work Barton.
ReplyDeleteAgree. Pute Barton made in an easy first « quarter ». I m a fan.
Delete+1
DeletePure *
DeleteIf it continues like this, I see him in the final or the third-place match.
Deleteİ don't think they will give the final match to a referee who is just at the beginning of his career
DeleteIf it’s CONCACAF this time, they will give it to Ramos or Elfath…
DeleteVery easy first half for Barton.
ReplyDeleteWhat a first half.. easy..
ReplyDeleteSimple first half but Barton looks alert!
ReplyDeleteAs my mentor once told me. "You can only referee what's Infront of you." And that is very true of Barton and this first half. It has not been a difficult half by any stretch but he has handled it well and displayed all the skills and qualities I highlighted previously. At only 35 it is clear he referees "beyond his years" with a nuanced degree of maturity and class that would we usually reserve for "elder statesman". Undoubtedly the game will increase in intensity and difficulty and Barton and team should be equipped to handle what is thrown their way.
ReplyDeletePerfect Barton at all. But nothing big to judge for the salvadorian referee.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEasy first half for Barton without any to report. Correct perofrmance for first half.
ReplyDelete40' Clip: https://streamable.com/9gq9ym
ReplyDeleteBarton gives me a chance of keep dreaming. He is probably the smallest referee in the WC but despite this he is there. Uefa and Conembol referees are so tall that makes almost impossible for me and others to ever have the hope of be there
ReplyDeleteGood performance from Barton at Halftime
ReplyDeleteGood no PK call on 49'
ReplyDeleteAgree. As was Letexier non call was.
DeleteIt is Ivan Barton from El Salvador which is from CONCACAF who is the referee. Letexier isn't the referee in all the matches.
DeleteOh my, not everything in life is about Letexier, Letexier and Letexier 🥱
DeleteUnfortunately for the ultra-biased Euro-snobs it is. A referee like Barton makes them uncomfortable.
Deletegood no pk call
ReplyDeleteCorrect decision not to award a penalty
ReplyDeleteOh. When it was Egypt, you spoke about scandal and penalty missed. Interesting change.
Deleteyeah because there was also a clear kick at Salah in that game…
Delete49' Clip: https://streamable.com/wjqogu
DeleteA clear nothing at all…
DeleteYou cannot tell me that Salah was not kicked! Do I think it’s a foul? No. But if you are giving the earlier one as a foul and OFR then you have to give both. Anyways I thought Letexier did well but was let down by the VAR team.
DeleteCompletely agree with your comment. But Krystian said for Arg - Egy that was a clear penalty missed on Salah. That’s the purpose of my words. ;)
DeleteGood no PK call
ReplyDeleteClear YC
ReplyDeleteGood YC
ReplyDeleteReplay YC 51' Clip: https://streamable.com/api4gu
DeleteExcellent advantage on 51' and then correct YC for SUI #10 for reckless upon ball out of play.
ReplyDeleteAgree. Absolutely brilliant.
DeleteI doubt he played the advantage. He did not signal the advantage, instead making the sign ‘ball was played’. Suggests he missed the stamp and probably the caution came from the team (Var?). But good decision, just like the caution for Col7 for his reckless tackle afterwards.
DeleteExcellent yc from Barton
ReplyDeleteVery good YC for Xhaka after advantage
ReplyDeleteI didnt see advantage signal.
ReplyDeletePerfect feel YC
ReplyDeleteHahahaha!!! Every time they put Infantino on the screen, the boos are louder than the homophobic chants at the Estadio Azteca.
ReplyDeleteUnusually, the in stadium pictures and tv pictures are completely different. The noise was related to onfield, rather than him this time
DeleteNoy always true. Fan cams shown on the TV broadcast are typically mirrored in the stadium so the fans can make a show of themselves. In this case they showed a CLOWN and fans reacted accordingly. But thank you for your opinion, Mr. Infantino.
DeleteUsually, yes. At this tournament, no. I'm sorry what I'm saying is true and you don't like that, but being dismissive doesn't change that
DeleteIf you say so pal. I'd agree with you, but then we would both be wrong. May the rest of your day be as pleasant as you are.
DeleteDo we have to see Infantino face?
ReplyDeleteYes, so the fans can boo him mercilessly.
DeleteIf it is shown for this purpose, I see no contraindications
DeleteCorrect YC on 58' to SUI #6 for reckless challenge
ReplyDeleteYC 59' Clip: https://streamable.com/m6s1vd
DeleteSecond perfect YC. Bravo Barton !
ReplyDeleteCorrect yc again
ReplyDeleteAnother excellent award from YC Barton
ReplyDeleteanother correct yc
ReplyDeleteCorrect YC on 60' to COL #25 for delaying the restart
ReplyDeletecant delay the restart if play hasn't stopped..
DeleteYes that's clearly correct, a correct YC none the less just not for what I stated
DeleteClip: https://streamable.com/aci8d0
DeleteYup sorry just had to make sure wording was correct :)
DeleteSomewhat cheap maybe but probably clever to even out the cards
ReplyDeleteNo such thing. Try again.
DeleteBravo Barton for not being scared of issuing cards, the threshold for cards has been too high in this World Cup
ReplyDeleteKeeper made a meal of it, but you can’t ignore that kind of stupidity, Suarez absolutely had to be cautioned.
ReplyDeleteBarton fears nothing. He is following a clear and consistent line, and this third yellow card is absolutely spot on. His approach is so different from most referees, who seem reluctant to issue cautions, that you almost wonder whether he’s even listening to Collina and the rest of the refereeing leadership.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ivan, for being such a breath of fresh air amid the controversial refereeing we’ve seen throughout this World Cup. Bravo, maestro.
+1
DeleteWell done Barton. Superb so far
ReplyDeleteYou see Barton is very alert all the time as Letexier always has been i UEFA-matches. Today he was "number 2 on the ball". Barton is number 1 tonight!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent Barton so far. Very alert and all mandatory YC issued without hesitation.
ReplyDeleteClip for YC for impeding gk please
ReplyDeleteWhy? You don't trust Barton's judgement?
Deleteuploaded just now.
Delete@Arbiter
DeleteI do. I just missed the incident. I just love watching Barton make those judgements.
Understood Gozie Joe. I meant no disrespect. I apologize for misinterpreting your comment. Have a Blessed day.
DeleteMissed YC for face contact if I saw correct!
ReplyDeleteCareless not reckless. FK only is fine
DeleteAgree but very difficult to catch live. Because out of play vision for referee. Careless ? Out of any play of the ball. Never. YC mandatory if referee saw it.
DeleteFor what I saw now, this match is not even 1/8 of pressure like Argentina Egypt, what is lucky for Barton.
ReplyDeleteI guess you didn't watch the Turkey vs. Paraguay match that Barton officiated. He handled the most difficult and chaotic game of the tournament by far without any issues
DeleteWatch it, but nothing like Argentina Egypt! After Arg-Egy, Mexico Argetina is second one in my view. That one was third!
DeletePeople see what they want to see through biased glasses.
DeleteLetexier and his VAR created the pressure and then folded under it.
Letexier proves that simply running around looking pretty and trying to talk you way out of everything doesn't work.
DeleteThis guy is completely clueless, and his comments lose all credibility when he says Mexico played Argentina.
DeleteArbiter your comments are absolutely ridiculous. Your hate of european referees is blinding your judgement. Letexier created the pressure ? What a shame to tell something like that.
DeleteUnfortunatly,I made mistake meant Mexico England
DeleteYour response is almost as ridiculous as Letexier's performance.
DeleteFurthermore, get your facts straight before you assume anything about me. My "flame thrower" is equal opportunity. Uzbek, French, Mexican, Chilean, Canadian, USA, you name it.
Face contact means not always YC!
ReplyDeleteThe match is getting tougher. I agree with most decisions, but he will need to figure out how to balance the decisions to cool down Switzerland
ReplyDeleteGotta find something eh? Keep digging, you might find something that actually sticks.
DeleteGood management on 73', quick response to injury and then to use good positive body language to diffuse any potential situation.
ReplyDeleteClip: https://streamable.com/73f1y8
DeleteWrongly called foul at 74. Play on the ball was obvious.
ReplyDeleteNice to see a regeree who is clear in his communication. This means also that the players yrust him and also has an attitude between each other like in the challenge between goalkeeper and atya ker.
ReplyDeleteQuick and decisive.
ReplyDeleteProperly read the possible injuries and was quick to stop play. Didn't delay his whistle like many other referees during the tournament.
He was also proactive not reactive when he quickly moved to spot of the incident to prevent anything from happening. He didn't stand afar reactionless like too many referees have done.
This referee is only 34 years old.. wow
ReplyDeleteIn a country like Germany with height discrimination (refs under 1.85m don’t really get selected for fast track programs), it’s refreshing to see that the best referee at this World Cup is the shortest man on the pitch.
ReplyDeleteHope he gets the final, would be well deserved.
For the longest, it was the same way in the US. In order to be considered for advancement, you had to have "the look". And one of the required metrics was definitely height. It's gotten better somewhat, but biases still exist.
DeleteIvan Barton is an incredible ref. Probably the best ref at this world cup and one of the best in the world.
ReplyDeleteBut his confederation, mannerisms, and dare I say appearance. Make a lot of people uncomfortable.
DeleteAgain very good no penalty decision by Barton.
ReplyDeleteCould have easily been the first YC for dive in this tournament imo
Delete86' Clip: https://streamable.com/dna1aq
ReplyDelete88' Clip: https://streamable.com/w6qglx
Delete90' Replays Clip: https://streamable.com/s9ougx
DeletePK missed imo, only thing against is that the attacker lost possibility to get the ball but really close call
ReplyDeletenever a penalty
DeleteWas penalty. Crystal one.
DeleteInteresting PK shout för SWI, to me it looked like COL FK before though?
ReplyDeleteThat was 200 % penalty ! Missed by Barton. No VAR intervention is ununderstanble.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been a very soft penalty
Deleteplease go back whistle to your 3rd country division
DeleteF… o… Toki ;)
DeleteJust gotta find something eh? Keep digging, you might find something that sticks.
Delete90 + 1' - Never a pen, the ball was moving away from him and he just runs into the outstretched leg. Attacker initiated the contact.
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+100
DeleteEnd of normal time. Excellent performance from Barton, one of the best this tournament. A ref who asserted his authority all game and managed the players effectively. Waived away both soft penalty appeals near the end, wasn't afraid to show cards when necessary, positive body language, explained his calls with proper gestures
ReplyDeleteSorry but this last situation is completely out of good refereeing. Come back to a first nowhere foul after a whistle to the last dangerous FK for switzerland isn’t a very clear manner to end the second half…
ReplyDeleteDidnt want to give switzerland a freekick in a dangerous position last minute so he invents a foul the other way. Poor ending
ReplyDeleteWell, here are the referee's decisions, clear to everyone, without any tricks or manipulations.
ReplyDeleteAbout performance by Barton- good and nothing more than that. Football focused game without pressure on high level. Two YC missed in my view, two offside calls by 1st assistant that was tight,in my view rather wrong. One thing that separate him from top group of referees , is physical presence and confidence,which on example Elfath have. So about his next assigments, can be in race for 3rd place game, eventually 4th offical at final. Nothing more than that.
ReplyDeleteExcellent performance from Barton
ReplyDeleteI don't think he finished the regular game time in the best way.
ReplyDeleteBarton played at a good, high level throughout the 90 minutes. The three yellow cards were well-deserved and deserved. He showed good gestures, determination, and rapport with his players. I think he deserves another match, but for various reasons, that seems unlikely. We'll see what extra time brings.
ReplyDeletegood no pk call
ReplyDeleteFull-Sequence: https://streamable.com/gp9zu9
DeleteOnly the VAR's (Brisard) in Argentina game intervene on those.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but your comments are becoming useless, meaningless and frankly cloying.
DeleteThank you. I've been called worse by better. May the rest of your day be as pleasant as you are.
DeleteITAREF let’s the « loco mexican » talks. He is a clown from Mexico.
DeleteAnd as you're pleasant year round, providing comments of value throughout the competitions, that's quite a compliment to ITAREF! +1 to ITAREF
DeleteEthnic based insults. A new low, even for you. Tell me where the short brown man from El Salvador hurt you?
DeleteBarton is a very good referee. No problem with any skin colour. As leftist in France, that’s you which are speaking about ethnicity…
DeleteYou're the one who brought up race initially in a failed attempt to insult. That wasn't very "left" of you Mr. Le Pen.
DeleteHappy to discover that mexican citizenship is a « race ».
DeleteWhatever helps you cope Mr. Le Pen the "leftist".
DeleteDon't you have a Rassemblement National meeting to attend? You can go there and vent about how horrible terrible Mexicans are.
Delete💋
DeleteSo, what do you say? Peace treaty beers? Shall we let bygones be bygones? Your move.
DeleteReferencing the possible PK for SWI I like the no decision here!
ReplyDeletegood Yc
ReplyDeleteNo, wrong YC. The foul were by SWI tbh
DeleteAgree. Wrong assesment
DeleteClip: https://streamable.com/loqr4p
DeleteThe defender is wrapping his arms around the opponent's waist to stop the play. The first angle shows this clearly
Delete@refnewgen.. Clear yellow card.. thank for the clip
DeleteWrong card
ReplyDeleteHuge job from Katia Garcia as 4th btw
ReplyDeleteI agree!!! Lifting the subs boards is a tedious task.
DeleteClearly wrong YC. The attacker was the one who pulled the defender's shirt. Why no intervention such as in Makkelie's first match?
ReplyDeleteThe defender commits the first foul
DeleteOoooof!!!
ReplyDeleteThat challenge of SWI #17 Vargas brought flashback of WC 2014.
The challenge from a Colombian player that put Neymar out of the World Cup. That was completely missed by the overwhelmed and in over his head Carlos Velasco Carballo.
Wrong offside?
ReplyDeletePlayers visibly frustrated by the relatively low bar for free kicks. Not consistent with previous matches, and causes less flow in the game. Quite good game by Barton, but probably not what the commitee wants ideally.
ReplyDeleteDo we really care about what the "committee wants ideally"?
DeleteHave you not seen how poor the officiating has been overall because of the ridiculous instructions and directives.
Don’t care, but relevant for speculations about further assignments.
DeleteNot necessarily. Assignments based on merit haven't been Collina's mode of operation.
DeleteI'm not 100% sure I'm fully with this. Certainly towards attacking players in the final third, there seems to be a super high bar. Although yes, a touch lower elsewhere on the pitch
Delete40 free kicks in this match, most of the other R16 have had half of that.
DeleteNot every match is the same. And not every referee is the same either. The people who can see this and accept this have a better understanding.
DeleteThat is something that cannot be said of the referee committee. As they erroneously expect all the referees to be robotic and to perform in the exact same manner.
Human nature makes that inherently impossible. That's common sense. But then again, common sense isn't something that abounds at FIFA.
Barton is, without a doubt, the best referee of the tournament.
ReplyDeleteAgree. Overall of his Three matches, top 3 with Turpin and Makhadmed for me.
DeleteOn this, I agree with you. And it's great that they come from 3 different confederations. That's what this all about. Football is the world's game.
DeleteSome beers ? 😂
Delete+1
DeleteI'm down for "peace treaty" beers if we can let bygones be bygones. What do you say?
DeleteYC 105' Clip: https://streamable.com/c8x110
ReplyDeleteRefNewGen: Thank you very much for your clips, grate job.
ReplyDelete+ 1 Thks a lot.
Delete*great
DeleteNo problem gentlemen, its my pleasure
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis performance of a little brave guy being focused on his job to protect the players and the LOTG. Absolutely respected by the players, communicating in a way that any bigger dissent is not happening, that the players still respect each other, a ref with good positioning, clear foul detection, consistent in his disciplinary line - just 34 yrs. old - he gives me back a little hope that it's not all too late. Thanks and my biggest compliments!
ReplyDeleteAgree
Delete+1
DeleteIvan Barton is an excellent referee, I like him a lot
ReplyDeleteAfter all those poor refereeing performances, Ivan Barton was like a breath of fresh air for us. Thank you, BARTON..
ReplyDeleteHis performance has been poor ,he has killed the game by refereeing Switzerland but not colombia
Delete@john You must have watched a different match
DeleteBarton did a fantastic job directing the game, no comparison to Letexier!
ReplyDeleteNo comparaison because the level of difficulty is from 1 to 30. You can’t compare the two matchs. But very very good job by Barton at all. Congrats.
DeleteA 34-year-old Salvadoran referee with a big heart... congratulations, Barton
ReplyDeleteOnly based on the Performances Ivan Barton is for me the number one canidate for the wc final
ReplyDelete+1
Deletehe deserve it
DeleteTo briefly summarize Barton's performance, because there's no point in going on about it. His performance was absolutely perfect. One of the best referees of the tournament, if not the best. He made a hugely positive impression on me.
ReplyDeleteIf there is any justice, Barton will be appointed to the final match.
ReplyDeletewas that a wrong PK shootout procedure? It looked like Xhaka picked side after the first coin toss.
ReplyDeleteI would have said Barton for final, but he won't get it because there are older referees from two of the host nations Elfath and Ramos and the same federation (CONCACAF) who could be better favoured, not because they are better than Barton, but because they are older refs, from two of the host countries and maybe in their last world cup. So politics wise, the American and Mexican might be better placed for the finals over Barton who's much younger and may have more 3 world cups ahead of him. However Barton would absolutely deserve the final.
ReplyDelete