Former World Cup assistant referee Darren Cann has moved to dismiss the conspiracy theories that regularly swirl around football's biggest tournament, insisting officials never operate with bias towards any nation or team.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Cann, who has officiated at multiple World Cups, said claims of favouritism simply don't reflect the reality of how referees and their assistants approach matches. According to Cann, officials are selected and assessed on merit, professionalism and consistency, not on any hidden agenda to help particular sides progress.
His comments come amid the usual chatter that accompanies major tournaments, where contentious decisions often fuel accusations that certain teams are being protected or favoured by referees. Cann pushed back firmly against this narrative, arguing that the scrutiny officials face makes any form of bias practically impossible to sustain.
While fans and pundits will likely continue debating individual decisions, Cann's testimony from inside the officiating world offers a rare insider's defence of referees at a time when their integrity is frequently questioned in the court of public opinion.