Salvadoran referees honored by Legislative Assembly

The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador presented special recognition diplomas to international referees Iván Barton Cisneros and David Jonathan Morán Santos. The honor recognizes their professional careers and their participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026, where they officiated four matches, including a semifinal.

During the ceremony, Legislative Assembly President Ernesto Castro praised the referees as a source of national pride, stating they demonstrated that being Salvadoran is not an impediment to succeeding on the world stage. He emphasized that their discipline and sacrifice serve as examples for the country.

In his address, Iván Barton shared his personal journey, recalling how he used candy wrappers as makeshift red and yellow cards as a child in Santa Ana. He also spoke about the challenges he faced early in his career, including instances of facing firearms due to local insecurity and gang presence. Barton concluded by urging Salvadoran youth to focus on their studies, pursue their dreams, and maintain discipline to achieve their goals.