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Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor are considered among the most highly regarded referees at the World Cup, but an off-field factor could deny them the chance to officiate the grand final. If Argentina reach the tournament's final, the two English referees will not be able to be appointed by FIFA.
According to a report by The Athletic, there is a consolidated practice within FIFA that English referees do not referee Argentina matches. The president of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, has full confidence in Oliver and Taylor, but the issue is related to historical and political sensitivities between England and Argentina.
At the heart of this decision remains the legacy of the 1982 Falklands War. The 74-day conflict between the United Kingdom and Argentina ended in a British victory and remains a sore spot in relations between the two countries. The war killed 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British soldiers and three residents of the islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas.
How sensitive this topic remains was seen recently, when Argentine President Javier Miel reiterated his country's claim to the islands, declaring: "The Malvinas have been, are and will always be Argentine."
Although Oliver was not born when the war broke out, while Taylor was only three years old, FIFA continues to avoid any situation that could be interpreted as a conflict of interest or stir up political controversy.
For this reason, the chances of the two English referees to officiate the final depend directly on Argentina's performance in the tournament. If the South American national team is eliminated before the final, Oliver and Taylor will remain strong candidates for the most prestigious challenge in world football. Otherwise, their dream will be over.
A similar situation occurred at the World Cup in Qatar four years ago. Anthony Taylor was among the favorites to referee the final, but Argentina's qualification for the decisive match automatically excluded him from the competition.
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