Alan Shearer, England's all-time leading goalscorer, has expressed concern that officiating decisions and VAR interventions could prevent the Three Lions from reaching the World Cup final. England is set to face Argentina in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Shearer stated that he has been alarmed by what he perceives as inconsistent officiating throughout the tournament, leading him to fear that Argentina may benefit from favorable calls. He cited several instances, including a disallowed goal for Egypt against Argentina in the round of 16, which he described as "nonsense." Additionally, he pointed to an incident in Argentina's quarter-final match where a Swiss player received a second yellow card for simulation after a VAR review, a decision that sparked debate about the new rules.
Another incident mentioned by Shearer involved Lionel Messi not receiving a red card for stepping on an opponent's calf during a group stage match, after which the Algerian Football Federation reportedly filed a complaint with FIFA.
"I'm slightly concerned that a refereeing decision or VAR could cost us against Argentina because I think the narrative from the referees and the VAR from the start of the tournament to now has changed massively," Shearer told Betfair. He also recalled a match involving Kylian Mbappe where he believed a clear penalty was not awarded despite a referee review.
Shearer's concerns also extend to the appointed referee for the semi-final, Major League Soccer official Ismail Elfath. Elfath previously officiated the 2023 Leagues Cup final, where Messi won his first trophy with Inter Miami, and was the fourth official in the 2022 World Cup final, which Argentina won on penalties.