Clement Turpin will take charge of England's opening World Cup match against Croatia on Wednesday – a man once described by Thomas Tuchel as a “Grade E” official who deserved a one out of ten. The French referee sent the then Bayern Munich manager to the stands during a Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City in April 2023, brandishing two yellow cards.
Turpin produced five yellow cards in the first half at the Allianz Arena and a straight red for Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano for a last-man challenge on Erling Haaland, which was later overturned by the video assistant referee for offside. Bayern lost 4-1 on aggregate, prompting a blistering post-match attack from Tuchel.
“Clement Turpin, labelled 'Grade E' by Thomas Tuchel, will referee England's World Cup opener against Croatia.”
“Two things couldn't keep up with the level – the pitch wasn't in good condition and also the referee, unfortunately, was Grade E,” Tuchel said. “I'd give him a one out of 10. He was absolutely terrible. It's unbelievable at this level. He was whistling for everything and anything. Everything was against us. In the end, we were never in a position to turn things around with three men against us. That's a fact.”
England midfielder Jude Bellingham has also felt the force of Turpin's strict approach. While playing for Real Madrid, Bellingham was pushed away from the penalty spot by Turpin while trying to put off Bayern's Harry Kane from taking a penalty. The incident adds a personal edge for two of England's key players.
Despite the criticism, Turpin is regarded as one of Europe's leading referees. He took charge of the 2021 Europa League final and the 2022 Champions League final, and was selected for Euro 2024, where he officiated England's 0-0 draw with Slovenia. Now he will control the Three Lions' opening World Cup clash, a fixture that already carries extra tension given his history with the England camp.