English referee will miss out on massive World Cup final bonus due to controversial ban

Former US men's team defender Jonathan Bornstein discusses FIFA's controversial decision to reverse Balogun's red card suspension, allowing him to play in the critical World Cup Round of 16 match. Bornstein explains why the call was "proper," contrasting it with the Norway coach's criticism. The USA is set to face top-ranked Belgium.

While the FIFA World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina has fans excited for reasons both soccer and history related, the matchup means a premature end for one of the best officials at the tournament.

Premier League referee Michael Oliver, along with fellow countryman Anthony Taylor, will not be permitted to officiate the semifinal thanks to England punching their ticket to the final four of the 2026 World Cup.

England's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring a tying goal in the first half against Norway. (Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)

Whether the Three Lions advance to the finals or not is a moot point as well, as Oliver and Taylor's World Cup journey has come to an end because of something out of their control.

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Referees are forbidden from officiating a match involving their home country, and, because they cannot be assigned to a match that has a direct consequence for their home country in the next round, the two Englishmen are exempt from officiating the Spain and France semifinal as well.

For Oliver, the ban means missing out on a massive payday, as referees who made it through the entire tournament would be in line to make off with a sum north of $100,000 with bonuses added for officiating matches in the final stages of the World Cup.

Lionel Messi and Argentina