I've been a World Cup official - I promise you there is no favouritism

What the report says

BBC Sport published an attributed piece by Darren Cann, the former assistant referee who worked the 2010 World Cup final, rejecting claims that World Cup officials are favouring Argentina or Lionel Messi. Cann, who officiated at the 2010 and 2014 tournaments alongside referee Howard Webb and assistant Michael Mullarkey, said referees operate independently of Fifa leadership while at the tournament and are focused on training, match review and preparation rather than any outside direction.

The article comes before Sunday’s World Cup final, in which Argentina are due to face Spain, with Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic appointed to take charge. Cann addressed online theories that Fifa wanted an Argentina-Spain final, including speculation around Messi and Spain’s Lamine Yamal, and said mistakes can happen in fast-moving matches but should not be treated as evidence of a planned outcome.

Cann also discussed criticism after Argentina’s 3-2 last-16 win over Egypt, saying Fifa referees chief Pierluigi Collina defended the integrity of referee Francois Letexier after the Egyptian FA made accusations of deliberate bias. Cann warned that such claims can contribute to abuse and threats against officials and their families, citing previous threats received by English referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor.

Using examples from past and current tournaments, Cann said officials sometimes make honest errors, including in high-pressure matches, but that referees do not judge incidents based on player reputation or national interest. His central argument to BBC Sport was that the priority for World Cup officials is avoiding decisions that wrongly affect results, not helping any team win.