Who is Clement Turpin? The Norway vs England referee at World Cup 2026 who once furious Thomas Tuchel branded “Grade E”

Clement Turpin is a French referee who is widely seen as one of the best officials in Europe. He has been chosen to referee the England vs Norway FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final. Turpin already refereed England’s 4-2 win over Croatia in the group stage, and he has a well-known history with England manager Thomas Tuchel going back to a heated Champions League match in 2023.

There is something really interesting about the referees who take charge at a World Cup quarter-final. The players get most of the attention, but the referee has the power to shape how the whole game plays out. For England’s big clash with Norway in the last eight, that man is Clément Turpin. And trust us, his story is well worth knowing about!

Turpin is no stranger to big football. He has already refereed two major European finals and is respected right across the continent. But what makes his appointment extra interesting is this: the man in the England dugout, Thomas Tuchel, once very publicly had a go at Turpin after one of the most talked-about post-match rants in recent Champions League history.

So what can England and Norway fans expect from the man in the middle? Let’s take a look!

What Are Turpin’s Credentials as a World Cup 2026 Referee?

Before we get to the drama, it is worth knowing just how impressive Clément Turpin’s record actually is. He was born in 1982 and has been a UEFA Elite group referee since 2012. That is a very exclusive group, reserved only for the very best officials in European football.

His record speaks for itself. According to WorldReferee, Turpin has taken charge of 141 matches across 50 competitions. In that time, he has handed out 358 yellow cards and 26 red cards. That is more than a decade at the very top of the game, from group stage openers right through to major finals.

At this World Cup, Turpin has already shown his quality. He refereed England’s 4-2 win over Croatia in the group stage, a lively match that needed a calm and experienced official. He also took charge of Paraguay’s draw with Australia and Colombia’s win over Ghana in the round of 32. Three matches in, and he has handled very different types of games without any major issues.

This is also not his first World Cup. Turpin refereed at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, taking charge of Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia and Switzerland vs Costa Rica. At Qatar 2022, he was given the round of 16 match between Brazil and South Korea, which Brazil won 4-1. That is one of the biggest knockout games of that tournament.

Put simply, Turpin has more than earned his place at this level. Nobody who follows refereeing closely will be surprised to see him given this quarter-final.

Which Matches Has Turpin Officiated at World Cup 2026?

Here is a quick look at Turpin’s matches in the tournament before the quarter-final:

• England 4-2 Croatia – Group Stage
• Paraguay vs Australia – Group Stage (draw)
• Colombia vs Ghana – Round of 32 (Colombia win)

His performances across all three games have been steady and in control, which is exactly what FIFA wants from officials chosen for knockout ties. Getting through England’s high-scoring opener without any major controversy was a really good sign of things to come.

Why Did Thomas Tuchel Call Turpin “Grade E”?

Right, now for the bit everyone is talking about! Thomas Tuchel, England’s head coach, has a very public and very colourful history with Clément Turpin.

Think back to April 2023. Tuchel was manager of Bayern Munich, taking his side through a Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City at the Allianz Arena. It was not a great night, and Tuchel’s anger was aimed firmly at the referee.

Turpin gave out five yellow cards in the first half alone. That is a huge number for a match at that level. Things got even more dramatic when Dayot Upamecano was shown a straight red card for what looked like a last-man challenge on Erling Haaland. Bayern were down to ten men and it looked like the game was gone.

Then VAR stepped in. Haaland had been in an offside position when the foul happened, so Upamecano’s red card was overturned. Bayern were back to eleven men. But Tuchel was still absolutely furious. He had seen enough, and he made his feelings very clear after the final whistle.

“Two things couldn’t keep up with the level,” Tuchel told reporters. “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.”

“Grade E” basically means the lowest possible mark on a performance scale. It is a quote that football fans have not forgotten. And now, with Tuchel managing England and Turpin refereeing their quarter-final, it makes for a brilliant storyline!

In fairness to Tuchel, managers often say things in the heat of the moment that they might not fully stand by later. And in fairness to Turpin, Bayern actually went through to the semi-finals despite the chaos, and the VAR decision that overturned Upamecano’s red card actually helped Bayern in the end.

How Has Turpin Handled Jude Bellingham on the Pitch?

There is another link between Turpin and England worth mentioning, and it involves Jude Bellingham, one of the Three Lions’ biggest stars.

Turpin has come across Bellingham in the Champions League before, and what is really noticeable is how willing the French referee is to be firm with the Real Madrid midfielder when needed. On one occasion, Turpin physically stepped in and moved Bellingham away from the penalty spot. Bellingham had been trying to put Harry Kane off as the striker prepared to take a penalty, and Turpin was having none of it.

That takes real confidence and authority. Turpin managed the situation calmly and without any fuss. For England supporters, that kind of composure when dealing with big-name players is actually very reassuring. Turpin is not someone who gets pushed around by reputations.

What Are Turpin’s Biggest Career Highlights?

If you are still not sure whether Turpin is ready for a World Cup quarter-final, these should put your mind at rest!

2021 UEFA Europa League Final

Turpin refereed the Europa League final between Villarreal and Manchester United on 26 May 2021 at the Gdansk Stadium in Poland. Neither side could find a winner in 120 minutes, and it went all the way to penalties. Villarreal won 11-10 in a thrilling shootout. Keeping control of a major final that goes to a penalty shootout is one of the hardest things a referee can do, and Turpin did it brilliantly.

2022 UEFA Champions League Final

Refereeing a Champions League final is about as big as it gets for any official. Turpin reached that peak when UEFA appointed him to take charge of the 2022 final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris. Very few referees ever get that opportunity, and Turpin handled it with class.

UEFA Euro 2024

Turpin had a busy and important Euro 2024. He took charge of some really big games, including the opening match of the tournament between Germany and Scotland (a 5-1 win for the hosts), England’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia in the group stage, and the quarter-final between the Netherlands and Turkey, which the Dutch won 2-1.

That is a serious CV. Three major international tournaments, at least one club final, and plenty of high-pressure knockout games. Turpin brings a huge amount of experience to this England vs Norway tie.

Is Clément Turpin the Right Choice for England vs Norway?

Absolutely, and here is why. A World Cup quarter-final needs a referee who has been in big situations before, stayed calm under pressure, and earned the trust of football’s top decision-makers. Turpin does all of that.

His numbers back it up too. He averages 2.54 yellow cards per match and 0.184 red cards per game. That tells you he is firm when he needs to be, but he does not overreact. He keeps control without letting the moment get to him. The VAR drama during the Bayern vs Man City game showed he can get caught up in tricky situations, but it also showed the system works and the right outcome came through in the end.

The history with Tuchel adds a fun subplot to the whole thing. Whether the two of them have sorted things out since 2023, or whether there is still a bit of awkwardness between them, is something we will probably never fully know. But on the pitch, what matters is the quality of the officiating. Based on everything Turpin has done in his career, he is absolutely the right man for this job.

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