- Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton has been appointed to officiate the World Cup semi-final match between Spain and France in Dallas.
- Barton, 35, previously worked as an organic chemistry professor and made his World Cup debut at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
- He is a regular official in Concacaf tournaments.
- Earlier at this World Cup, Barton made history as the first referee to send a player off for covering their mouth during a confrontation, dismissing Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron during their game against Turkey.
- He also previously halted a 2023 Concacaf Nations League match between the United States and Mexico due to homophobic chants from fans.
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