Szymon Marciniak reveals he was prepared to referee World Cup semi-final

Polish referee Szymon Marciniak has revealed that he was prepared to officiate a semi-final during the recent FIFA World Cup but was ultimately not selected for the match. Marciniak, who officiated Argentina vs. Algeria and Egypt vs. Iran, stated he had been in the rotation for several days and expected to be assigned a high-profile match.

Reflecting on the decision, Marciniak suggested that the composition of the final four teams may have played a role. He noted that the presence of France, with whom he had a significant history following the previous final, and Argentina might have presented marketing or public relations challenges for FIFA if he had officiated their matches.

Despite the missed opportunity, Marciniak emphasized his loyalty to football leadership, stating he holds no grievances against officials such as Pierluigi Collina or Massimo Busaccia. He also addressed a controversial moment involving Lionel Messi, explaining that a specific incident appeared to be a fraction of a second in duration when analyzed closely.