Clement Turpin has been appointed as the referee for England's World Cup quarter-final against Norway. The French official is no stranger to high-pressure matches and has a history with England's manager Thomas Tuchel.
Background and Career
Turpin, from Oullins, France, has been a FIFA international referee since 2010. He is considered one of Europe's top officials, with over a decade of elite-level experience. Domestically, he has been a regular in Ligue 1 since 2008.
Major Finals and Tournaments
UEFA entrusted Turpin with the 2021 Europa League final and the 2022 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool. He has officiated at multiple European Championships and World Cups, including the Euro 2024 opener between Germany and Scotland and a quarter-final between Turkey and the Netherlands.
At the 2026 World Cup, Turpin refereed England's 4-2 group stage win over Croatia, where he did not show a single card. He also handled a 0-0 draw between Australia and Paraguay and Colombia's 1-0 round-of-32 win over Ghana.
Thomas Tuchel Incident
Turpin clashed with Thomas Tuchel during a 2023 Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Manchester City. After sending Tuchel to the stands, the England boss called Turpin "absolutely terrible" and gave him a "Grade E" rating. In that match, Turpin issued five bookings before half-time and a straight red card to Dayot Upamecano, which was overturned by VAR.
Turpin also handled a tense moment between Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane during a Champions League penalty incident in April 2024. Experts expect him to allow a physical game in the quarter-final against Norway rather than issuing many cards.
