NEW DELHI: England’s FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Norway will be officiated by experienced French referee Clément Turpin. The match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami will be Turpin’s fourth game of the tournament and the ninth World Cup match of his career. The winner of the quarterfinal will face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semifinals.
Who is Clement Turpin ?
Turpin was also the referee when England beat Croatia 4-2 in their opening match of the tournament.The 44-year-old has previously worked at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and is regarded as one of Europe’s top referees.At this year’s tournament, he has officiated England’s win over Croatia, Paraguay’s goalless draw with Australia, and Colombia’s Round of 16 victory over Ghana.He will be assisted by fellow French officials Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pages. Spain’s Alejandro Hernandez will be the fourth official, while Jose Enrique Naranjo will serve as the reserve assistant referee.
Good record for England
England have generally enjoyed good results under Turpin. Sunday’s match will be the ninth time he has officiated the Three Lions.England have won five of their previous eight matches with Turpin in charge. Their only draw under him was a 0-0 result against Slovenia at UEFA Euro 2024.
Tuchel on Turpin
Despite his reputation as one of Europe’s best referees, Turpin has had his share of controversy.In 2023, England manager Thomas Tuchel, then Bayern Munich coach, strongly criticised the French referee after Bayern’s Champions League quarterfinal against Manchester City.Tuchel was unhappy after Turpin showed five yellow cards in the first half and initially sent off Dayot Upamecano before VAR overturned the decision for offside.“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,” Tuchel had said.Despite that criticism, Turpin remains one of the most respected referees in world football. He officiated the 2021 Europa League final and the 2022 UEFA Champions League final and has handled several high-profile international matches.He has also officiated matches involving Jude Bellingham in club football and is known for his calm approach in high-pressure situations as he prepares to take charge of another important England World Cup match.