In 2026 FIFA World Cup the semi-final between France and Spain produced several refereeing talking points before Spain secured a 2-0 victory to reach the final, but one of the most unexpected moments of the evening came just eight minutes into the contest when referee Iván Barton briefly stopped the game after forgetting one of the most basic pieces of equipment needed to officiate a match. The Salvadoran official was preparing to handle a Spain free-kick when he realized he didn’t have his fading white spray, prompting an awkward pause before fourth official Glenn Nyberg rushed onto the pitch to hand him the can. Although the delay only lasted moments, the bizarre scene quickly went viral on social media, becoming one of the lighter talking points 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 the French midfielder Adrien Rabiot mistimed a challenge to Dani Olmo in the eighth minute.Rabiot stood on the foot of the Spanish midfielder, conceding a free kick in a dangerous position and receiving the first yellow card of the game.As Barton moved towards the edge of France’s defensive wall to mark the required distance, he suddenly realized that he had forgotten about his disappearing spray.Unable to resume play, the 35-year-old smiled as he ran towards the touchline as fourth official Glenn Nyberg entered the field carrying the spray can before giving it away.Players from both teams were left waiting as the officials sorted out the unexpected oversight, allowing the free-kick to proceed only after Barton had marked the defensive wall.The unusual moment immediately caught the attention of broadcasters.Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former England striker Chris Sutton joked: “The referee forgot his spray. Come on, you’ve got two jobs. Remember your whistle and remember your spray.”
Another talking point in a busy evening for officials
Although the forgotten spray briefly amused supporters, Barton’s performance later came under much heavier scrutiny.Spain took the lead through Mikel Oyarzabal after Barton were awarded a penalty in the first half when Lucas Digne brought down Lamine Yamal in the penalty area. While the decision divided opinion, it was allowed to stand without intervention from VAR.Later in the half, confusion surrounded another incident when Barton initially awarded France a dangerous free-kick after adjudging Fabián Ruiz had fouled Ousmane Dembélé on the edge of the box.
Spain’s Fabian Ruiz (8) protests 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)
Following the advice of his assistant referee, Barton overturned the decision before the restart after replays showed that Ruiz had not made significant contact with Dembélé. The reversal briefly sparked confusion among players and supporters, with many mistakenly believing that VAR had intervened.France coach Didier Deschamps later questioned whether Barton had officiated the match at the level expected of a World Cup semi-final, describing his frustrations as “an accumulation of things” rather than focusing solely on the penalty decision.
Experienced officer with an eventful career
Born in Santa Ana, El Salvador, Barton first worked as a professor of organic chemistry after earning a degree in chemical sciences before becoming one of CONCACAF’s top referees.He made his debut at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and continued to officiate high-profile matches in the 2026 tournament. Before the semi-final, Barton was in charge of the Round of 16 match between Colombia and Switzerland, which also underlines FIFA’s confidence in his experience at the highest level.Ahead of this World Cup, Barton also made headlines after becoming the first referee at the tournament to send a player to cover his mouth during a match. Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón was sent off in their match against Turkey after repeatedly covering his mouth while arguing with officials, an action deemed to be in breach of FIFA’s communication transparency guidelines.In addition to his World Cup duties, Barton has already attracted attention for his firm handling of disciplinary situations, including the halting of a 2023 CONCACAF Nations League match between the United States and Mexico due to homophobic chants by supporters.While Spain’s disciplined display ultimately secured a comfortable 2-0 win and a place in the World Cup finals, Barton’s forgotten spray, alongside several high-profile decisions later in the match, ensured the officiating remained one of the biggest talking points of the evening.