French referee Clement Turpin, criticized by Thomas Tuchel as a 'Grade E' official, was chosen to officiate England's first World Cup 2026 match against Croatia.
Clement Turpin has been named as the referee for England's opening World Cup 2026 game against Croatia. The French official was previously labeled a 'Grade E' referee by Thomas Tuchel after a contentious Champions League match in 2023. Turpin's appointment comes ahead of England's Group Stage opener in the tournament.
During his time as Bayern Munich manager, Thomas Tuchel sent Turpin to the stands after showing him two yellow cards in a Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City in April 2023. Tuchel criticized Turpin's performance following Bayern's 4-1 aggregate defeat, stating: '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 added, 'I'd give him a one out of 10. He was absolutely terrible. It's unbelievable at this level.'
In the second leg of the tie in Germany, Turpin issued five yellow cards in the first half and sent off Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano for a last-man challenge on Erling Haaland. However, an offside call from the video assistant referee (VAR) later overturned the red card decision. Bayern's defeat under Tuchel's leadership fueled his post-match complaints about Turpin's officiating.
Despite past disputes with coaches and players, Turpin is considered one of Europe's elite referees. He officiated the 2021 Europa League final and the 2022 Champions League final, demonstrating his high standing. Turpin was also selected to referee at Euro 2024, where he oversaw England's 0-0 draw with Slovenia.