Clement Turpin, the referee for England's World Cup quarter-final against Norway on Saturday night, has been heavily criticised by Thomas Tuchel in the past. The Three Lions face Norway in Miami at 10pm BST, aiming to reach the World Cup semi-finals for only the fourth time in their history.
Tuchel's past criticism of Turpin
Tuchel was far from impressed with Turpin's performance in April 2023 when his Bayern Munich side faced Manchester City in the Champions League. Turpin officiated the second leg of the quarter-final, which ended 1-1, giving City a 4-1 win on aggregate. Tuchel was shown two yellow cards during the match.
After the game, Tuchel did not hold back, saying: 'Two things couldn't keep up with the level — the pitch wasn't in good condition and also the referee, unfortunately, was Grade E. 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.'
Turpin's World Cup record
FIFA appointed Turpin for this crucial clash. He also officiated England's opening game of the tournament, a 4-2 win over Croatia. This will be his fourth match of the finals, having also overseen Paraguay's goalless draw with Australia and Colombia's 1-0 win over Ghana.
The 44-year-old Frenchman is a vastly experienced official, with this his third World Cup after Russia and Qatar. In club football, he took charge of the 2022 Champions League final when Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0.
Tuchel's broader concerns
Prior to the Croatia game, Tuchel acknowledged Turpin as a 'top referee' despite their history. Turpin had a good game in Dallas, correctly awarding a penalty to England after Luka Modric fouled Noni Madueke and allowing Harry Kane to retake it after Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic came off his line too early.
However, Tuchel has been generally unhappy with officiating at the 2026 World Cup, stating after the Mexico win: 'The referees are just not good enough.'
Discipline concerns
Turpin has shown seven yellow cards in his three games at this tournament. Four England players will miss a potential semi-final against Argentina or Switzerland if they are booked in the quarter-final.
England's journey has been tough, with Jarell Quansah receiving a two-game ban after his red card against Mexico. Tuchel will be hoping for a clean game from his side.
