I've been a World Cup official - I promise you there is no favouritism

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: I've been a World Cup official - I promise you there is no favouritismImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lionel Messi is set to line up for Argentina against Spain in Sunday's World Cup finalByDarren Cann2010 World Cup final assistant refereePublished3 hours agoAccording to many fans, social media timelines and corners of the internet, Fifa wants Argentina and Lionel Messi to win the World Cup - and the officials are all in on it. As referees, we are forced to deal with the idea that we are part of some kind of conspiracy theory all the time. I can't stress this strongly enough.

I was lucky enough to be an assistant referee at two World Cups, in 2010 and 2014, as part of a team which featured referee Howard Webb, with Michael Mullarkey running the other line. We were independent, and we made our own decisions. I can assure you this has not changed.

The Details

The referees are from all four corners of the globe, all from different football associations, separate confederations, and Fifa effectively borrows their services for six weeks. They are completely distinct from Fifa, in a separate training camp. I'm sorry to disappoint any conspiracy theorists, but I can promise you there aren't any clandestine meetings between Fifa's executive committee and the referees.

We don't see any of the suits at all. You are basically working every day - physical training, watching clips, debriefing the matches from the previous day. They are full-on days.

There's not a lot of downtime, and once you have completed one assignment, you are preparing for the next one. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Darren Cann, right, was part of the officiating team for the 2010 final alongside Referee Howard Webb and fellow assistant Michael MullarkeyThe suggestion that referees are in on some kind of masterplan to make sure Messi gets to the final is just not true, obviously. There is, apparently, a rumour that Fifa wanted an Argentina v Spain final to create a passing of the baton between Messi and Lamine Yamal.

What Experts Say

I personally had no idea that there was even a photograph of Messi with Lamine Yamal when he was a baby. I suspect that might also be true for many of the referees at this World Cup. Yes, as referees we might make mistakes.

This is human nature. And sometimes it might feel like the decisions are going against your country or club. But that's just the result of a fast-moving game with human beings at the centre of it - we are not being directed to create a pre-determined outcome.

Nor do we referee by the name on a player's back. Howard and I did a Champions League game some years ago. It was Barcelona at home to Bayern Munich.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.