Clement Turpin: The Referee Tuchel Rated 'Grade E' Set to Officiate England vs Croatia

Turpin Appointed for England's World Cup Opener Against Croatia

French referee Clement Turpin has been confirmed as the official in charge of England's first World Cup match against Croatia on Wednesday. The appointment carries an interesting backstory — Turpin was once publicly dismissed as a "Grade E" referee by prominent coach Thomas Tuchel following a heated Champions League encounter.

Tuchel's Memorable Post-Match Outburst

The tension between Turpin and Tuchel dates back to April 2023, when the Frenchman was officiating Bayern Munich's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City at the Allianz Arena. At the time, Tuchel was serving as Bayern's head coach, and the evening quickly spiraled into controversy.

Turpin handed out five yellow cards in the opening 45 minutes alone, and also issued a straight red card to Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano for a last-man challenge on Erling Haaland. However, a VAR review ultimately overturned that decision due to an offside ruling. Tuchel himself was shown two yellow cards during the match, resulting in him being sent to the stands.

Following Bayern's heavy 4-1 aggregate defeat, an incensed Tuchel pulled no punches in his assessment of Turpin's performance. "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. In the end, we were never in a position to turn things around with three men against us. That's a fact."

Bellingham Also Feels Turpin's Authority

England midfielder Jude Bellingham has had his own encounter with Turpin's firm officiating style. During a match involving Real Madrid, Bellingham was physically moved away from the penalty spot by Turpin after attempting to distract Bayern's Harry Kane ahead of a penalty kick — a clear demonstration of the referee's no-nonsense approach to maintaining order on the pitch.

A Highly Respected Official Despite the Controversy

Despite the friction with both Tuchel and Bellingham, Turpin commands significant respect within European football's officiating circles. His credentials speak for themselves — he presided over the 2021 UEFA Europa League final and the 2022 UEFA Champions League final, two of the most prestigious fixtures in club football.

Turpin was also selected as part of the officiating team for Euro 2024, where he took charge of England's goalless draw with Slovenia, giving him prior experience of managing the Three Lions in a competitive international setting.

As England prepare to kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia, Turpin's appointment ensures that a highly experienced — if occasionally controversial — official will be at the center of the action.