Moroccan-American referee Ismail Elfath will officiate the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina. Elfath has previously overseen several significant matches involving Lionel Messi. Online speculation has arisen due to these past coincidences and Messi's success in those games.
FIFA has defended its referees against claims of favoritism towards Argentina. Elfath's disciplinary record suggests a tightly controlled contest for both teams. Fifa announce American referee Ismail Elfath will take charge of England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina.
Summary from source