Referee Michael Oliver took charge of his seventh World Cup match — more than any other Englishman — during Spain's 2–1 quarter-final victory over Belgium in Los Angeles, but his chances of officiating the tournament final on 19 July appear slim.
Oliver — or his fellow English referee Anthony Taylor — will not be permitted to take charge of the final at MetLife Stadium later this month if it features either England or Argentina, two teams on the same side of the draw who are on course for a potential semi-final meeting.
Referees are not permitted to officiate matches involving their own countries in order to avoid potential conflicts of interest and to ensure neutrality, but Oliver and Taylor are also barred from officiating Argentina matches for political reasons: specifically, the legacy of the 1982 Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina.
The Falklands War broke out between Britain and Argentina over a dispute regarding sovereignty of the islands in the South Atlantic, and ended in a British military victory after 74 days of conflict.
The war resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British servicemen, and 3 islanders, leaving the issue firmly embedded in the political memory of both countries to this day.