FIFA Removes Referee From 2026 World Cup List After UK Arrest
FIFA removed a referee from its 2026 World Cup roster after a UK arrest for alleged sexual assault, leaving 52 referees, 88 assistants and 30 video officials selected.
TL;DR
FIFA removed a referee from its 2026 World Cup roster after a UK arrest for alleged sexual assault, leaving 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials selected for the 104‑game tournament.
Context
FIFA announced on Tuesday that it is aware of a serious allegation against a match official who was arrested in Britain while attending a UEFA club game.
The Metropolitan Police released the official, a man in his 30s, on bail. A British tabloid first reported the allegation.
FIFA said it will not consider the official for any competition matches pending investigation. UEFA also said it will not assign the official to its games and is monitoring the situation.
For comparison, the 2022 Qatar World Cup featured 36 referees, 69 assistant referees and 24 video match officials across 64 games.
The increase for 2026 reflects the expanded 104‑game format across three host nations.
FIFA publishes its referee list months before the tournament to allow teams and broadcasters to plan.
The governing body typically reviews conduct allegations before finalizing appointments for major events.
Key Facts
- FIFA stated it is aware of a serious allegation against a match official. - FIFA will not consider the match official for any competition matches pending the investigation. - FIFA has selected 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials for the 104‑game 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
What It Means
The removal reduces the referee pool by one, but the overall selection remains unchanged because FIFA already published the list.
The tournament will proceed with the originally announced numbers of officials.
The incident highlights FIFA’s protocol to pause assignments when serious allegations arise, pending legal outcomes.
Stakeholders will watch for the outcome of the UK police investigation and any further statements from FIFA or UEFA regarding the official’s future eligibility.
Other confederations may also review the official’s status for their upcoming competitions.
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