Clement Turpin will referee England vs Norway in the World Cup. The respected French referee recently oversaw the Three Lions’ 4-2 victory against Croatia.

Turpin officiated England’s opening game of the tournament. He also served as the man in the middle for Paraguay’s draw with Australia and Colombia’s win over Ghana in the round of 32.

The French official once frustrated Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel three years ago during his tenure at Bayern Munich.

Tuchel famously branded Turpin “Grade E” following a Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City in 2023, during which the manager received two yellow cards.

Tuchel expressed particular anger after Turpin issued five yellow cards in the first half at the Allianz Arena. The referee also handed Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano a straight red card for a challenge on Erling Haaland, though VAR later overturned the decision due to an offside call.

Reflecting on the match, Tuchel said: “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. In the end, we were never in a position to turn things around with three men against us. That’s a fact.”

Despite this past friction, Turpin holds a strong reputation across Europe. He is widely considered one of the continent’s top officials, possessing extensive experience on football’s biggest stages.

Turpin also has experience managing high-profile players, including Jude Bellingham. During a previous Champions League fixture, the official took a firm stance against the Real Madrid star after he attempted to unsettle Harry Kane near the penalty spot.

Significant assignments throughout Turpin’s career include the 2021 Europa League final and the 2022 Champions League final. He also officiated England’s goalless draw with Slovenia during Euro 2024.