As the beautiful game's beauty is often blemished by baseless accusations, one man is calling time on the 'favouritism' conspiracy theories that have long plagued football's highest level. Former World Cup assistant referee Darren Cann has dived headfirst into the fray, labelling such claims as nothing short of nonsense.
Speaking to BBC Sport with a passion and conviction that only comes from being at the very heart of the action, Cann recalled his time officiating at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. He explained that, far from being beholden to FIFA's whims, officials are, in effect, 'borrowed' by the governing body for the duration of the tournament – a crucial distinction that underscores their independence.
Cann painted a vivid picture of life behind the scenes: a separate training camp, distinct from the executive committee's inner sanctum; a gruelling schedule of physical training, video analysis, and match debriefs that leaves officials with little time to ponder extraneous narratives. And when it comes to those fabled 'directives', Cann was unequivocal – there are none, nor any secret meetings that might influence referee decisions.
He addressed the Argentina-Spain final speculation head-on, revealing he had no knowledge of such whispers or the photograph said to have sparked them. For Cann and his colleagues, it's not about the player on the pitch; it's about judging actions in real-time, as red shirts clash with blue. He recalled a Champions League match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich where, despite hindsight suggesting otherwise, he and Howard Webb didn't award a penalty for a foul on Messi.
Cann also highlighted the devastating impact of these conspiracy theories – not just on referees' reputations but on their families too. The severe repercussions can lead to abuse and even threats against loved ones, as Pierluigi Collina so tragically witnessed after accusations of bias against Argentina in their last-16 victory over Egypt.