Clement Turpin, the French referee once controversially labelled “Grade E” by former Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, has been appointed to officiate England’s World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday.
Tuchel’s scathing assessment came after Turpin sent him to the stands during Bayern’s Champions League quarter-final clash with Manchester City in April 2023. Post-match, a furious Tuchel declared, “The referee, unfortunately, was Grade E. I’d give him a one out of 10. He was absolutely terrible.”
According to BBC Sports report, England midfielder Jude Bellingham has also experienced Turpin’s firm approach, having been physically moved away from the penalty spot by the official during a Real Madrid match.
Despite these high-profile run-ins, Turpin is widely considered one of Europe’s top referees, having overseen both the 2021 Europa League and 2022 Champions League finals. He also officiated England’s goalless draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024.
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