The American referee of Moroccan origin, Ismail El Fath, attracted attention again during the 2026 World Cup, not only with his refereeing decisions but also with his human interaction on the field.
During his officiating of the Japan-Netherlands match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, Al-Fateh appeared in a scene that sparked reactions, after he stopped the game and asked one of the Japanese players about his condition after he fell, in a scene that seemed like an indirect apology for the contact.
This incident brought to mind previous situations involving the referee, most notably in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when he officiated prominent matches, including Brazil and Cameroon, and sent off Cameroonian Vincent Aboubakar after his famous celebration, and attracted attention with his calm and humane interaction with the players even in moments of showing cards or difficult decisions.
Al-Fateh is known for his approachable style with the players on the field, combining strict refereeing with human connection, which has made him the focus of attention for followers on more than one World Cup occasion and earned him the title of "the referee of apologies".
