Barton hits back at Deschamps criticism after France’s World Cup semi-final defeat

Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton has defended his performance and credentials after France coach Didier Deschamps publicly questioned whether he was qualified to take charge of a World Cup semi-final.

Deschamps spoke out following France’s 2-0 defeat by Spain in the last four of the 2026 World Cup, suggesting Barton was not at the level required for such a high‐stakes match.

“If I say anything at this moment, I risk being considered a moaner because we lost,” Deschamps said. “But the question I ask all of you is: does this referee have the required level to manage a World Cup semi-final?”

France’s exit – and the ensuing controversy – has added an extra layer of scrutiny to refereeing standards at the tournament, with Barton now responding publicly to the criticism.

Barton: ‘No comment will shake our conviction’

Speaking to broadcaster Jorge Ramos in an interview reported by Spanish newspaper AS, Barton insisted that Deschamps’ remarks had not unsettled him, and said his path to the World Cup knockout stage was the result of years of hard work.

“No, absolutely not. Everyone has the right to express their opinion,” Barton said when asked whether the France coach’s comments had affected him.

“We are aware of what we have gone through, what we have fought for, and how we earned this. We know why we are here. No comment will shake our conviction in our objective.”

Barton’s response reflects a growing willingness among top-level referees to address public criticism more openly, amid intense pressure and global scrutiny at major tournaments.

Pride in representing El Salvador

Leaving the controversy to one side, Barton said he was immensely proud to have represented El Salvador on the world stage.

The 33-year-old official is one of a small number of referees from Central America to have taken charge of matches deep into a World Cup, and he believes his journey demonstrates that officials from smaller footballing nations can reach the sport’s biggest occasions.

He said his presence in the semi-finals underlined that quality referees can emerge from any footballing background, regardless of a country’s size or its historical pedigree in the competition.

Barton added that he hopes his career can inspire other referees from El Salvador and across the region to pursue the highest levels of the game, showing that such opportunities are attainable with dedication and persistence.

Collina praise ‘one of the highlights’

The Salvadoran referee also revealed that support from Pierluigi Collina, the hugely respected former Italian referee and current chairman of Fifa’s Referees Committee, was among the most important moments of his tournament.

Barton said the backing and congratulations he received from Collina after the semi-final were one of his standout achievements at the 2026 World Cup, viewing the endorsement as a powerful recognition of his work at the competition.

For Barton, Collina’s approval appears to carry more weight than criticism from disappointed coaches, reinforcing his belief that his performances have met the standards required at the highest level.

Ongoing debate over refereeing standards

Deschamps’ comments, and Barton’s subsequent reply, feed into a broader, recurring debate at every World Cup about the consistency and quality of officiating, as well as the intense pressure referees face in the latter stages of the tournament.

While France reflect on their semi-final defeat by Spain and the decisions made on the pitch, Barton has chosen to highlight the long route that took him from domestic football in El Salvador to the global spotlight – and to underline that, in his view, no post‐match criticism will undermine that journey.