The group stage of the 2026 World Cup has commenced with notable controversies surrounding refereeing decisions, particularly involving Dutch referee Danny Makkelie. His performance during the match between the USA and Paraguay has drawn widespread criticism, revealing significant communication issues between the on-field officials and the VAR team.
Details: According to Archivo VAR, Makkelie received a dismal rating of 2.5 out of 10 for his role in the opening rounds. Experts have observed a decline in his refereeing skills, particularly following two major errors in this match. Firstly, Makkelie awarded a non-existent foul, leading to a questionable VAR intervention, which was further complicated by “player identity confusion.” Additionally, he failed to issue a yellow card for a serious studs-up challenge on American player Reyna.
In contrast, other referees’ performances appear more balanced. Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio was rated at 6.0 points for the Mexico vs. South Africa match. While he managed the first half effectively, correctly sending off two players for last-man fouls, he lost points due to a controversial VAR-influenced decision in the second half. Meanwhile, Egypt’s Amin Mohamed earned a rating of 6.5 points for his composed officiating in the South Korea vs. Czech Republic game, where he made accurate decisions, including awarding a goal to the Czech Republic. Argentine referee Facundo Tello received a 5.0 for the chaotic distribution of yellow cards in the Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina match, compounded by a mistake involving semi-automated offside technology.