England vs Norway referee got a ‘Grade E’ from Thomas Tuchel after a ‘really bad’ performance
The referee for England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway has been announced, and it might not be the news Thomas Tuchel wanted to hear.
After England’s exciting 3-2 win over Mexico—with two penalties and a red card—they now face Norway in Miami for the last eight. The refereeing and new rules at the World Cup have faced a lot of criticism, with many questionable calls during the tournament.
Tuchel will be hoping this game goes smoothly, especially since the referee in charge is one he once rated very poorly. French referee Clement Turpin will be in charge of the match, supported by his fellow French assistants Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pages. Spaniards Alejandro Hernandez and Jose Enrique Naranjo will act as the fourth official and reserve assistant referee.
Turpin’s appointment is interesting because Tuchel once called him “Grade E” and “one out of 10” after a Champions League game between Bayern Munich and Manchester City, where Turpin made some tough decisions. He gave out five yellow cards in one half and sent off Dayot Upamecano—though that red card was later overturned after VAR showed the Norwegian player was offside. Tuchel himself was sent off after protesting from the bench.
Despite Bayern getting a penalty in that quarter-final second leg, Tuchel didn’t hold back in his criticism. He said, “The pitch wasn’t great, and unfortunately, the referee was Grade E. I’d give him one out of 10. It’s unbelievable at this level. He was blowing the whistle for everything, and everything was against us. With three men down, we didn’t stand a chance.”
Turpin is an experienced UEFA referee who even handled the Champions League final in 2022 and the Europa League final the year before. He also refereed England’s first World Cup match, when they beat Croatia 4-2.
When asked about that tough game in 2023, Tuchel admitted he wasn’t happy with Turpin’s performance but also recognized his own emotions got the better of him. “He wasn’t happy with my behavior, so he gave me a red card. I wasn’t happy with his refereeing, but it’s better not to criticize refs because it brings out emotions. It was a very emotional and important match in the Champions League,” Tuchel said. “If I get a red card, I don’t blame the referee. We’re both just trying to do our best. I truly believe he’s a top referee proven at the highest level.”
Turpin also refereed England’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia in Euro 2024’s group stage.