Latino’s love to be “kicked out”…Iraq outrage after refereeing game in Bolivia

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has given the mandate to lead the dispute between… Iraq Bolivia is on the international stage for the 2026 World Cup, for Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton, who is known as one of the young names on the scene even at a young age.

The two teams will meet in the early hours of Wednesday in the decisive match that will take place at 6 in the morning, Mecca and Baghdad time, and seven in Abu Dhabi time, at the end of the second round of the World Cup competition.

Barton’s selection sparked outrage among fans of the Iraqi national team, with some preferring a European referee to officiate the match, rather than a Spanish-speaking referee.

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Barton is 35 years old, and has an impressive track record of managing major controversies. He is also known for his determined personality and strong discipline on the field.

The Salvadoran referee has a special reputation among viewers for his strictness in announcing cards, as he has already handed out 129 red cards in 270 games, in addition to a high rate of yellow cards of more than five cards per game, which can give the match a stalemate from the first minutes.

Barton made a splash in 2023, when he officiated a match between Inter Miami and Orlando City in the 32nd round of the League Cup, which saw him handing out a yellow card to Argentine star Lionel Messi.

This shot is special, as it represents the first yellow card Messi has received since joining Inter Miami in the summer of that year.