Clement Turpin, the referee for England's World Cup clash with Croatia on Wednesday night, has been slammed by Thomas Tuchel in the past. The 44-year-old is a vastly experienced official, taking charge of Ligue 1 games in his native France since 2008. The Frenchman became a FIFA referee in 2010 and this summer will be his third World Cup, having officiated games in Russia and Qatar. England fans may recall Turpin from the drab goalless draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024.
Tuchel's Criticism
Turpin reached the peak of his club career by taking charge of the 2022 Champions League final, where Real Madrid edged Liverpool 1-0. Despite his respected status, Tuchel did not hold back after his Bayern Munich side faced Manchester City in the Champions League in April 2023. Turpin officiated the second leg of the quarter-final, which ended 1-1, giving City a 4-1 aggregate win. Tuchel received two yellow cards from Turpin during the match in Munich and was furious afterward.
'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.'
Tuchel's Change of Tone
Tuchel has not fully retracted his criticism but now speaks highly of Turpin ahead of England's opener in Dallas. 'He's a top referee, and he was not happy with my behaviour in the match, so he gave me a red card, and I was not happy with his performance,' Tuchel said. 'It's always better to not speak about the referee as a coach. It's maybe not always possible because it brings out emotion, and it was an emotional night and very important match in the Champions League. But if I get a red card, I don't hold it against the referee. We're fighting for the best outcome, we're competing in sports and I think it's the same for him. I truly believe that he's a top referee, which he proves on the highest level and he will show it tomorrow.'
