England-Croatia referee was called Grade E by Tuchel

Clement Turpin will officiate England's World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday, a match where he was previously labeled a "Grade E" official by former Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel. Turpin, a French referee, has been a FIFA referee since 2010 and has officiated in major tournaments including the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA World Cup. His appointment for this high-profile fixture highlights his standing within the international refereeing community, despite past critical assessments from prominent figures in football management. Tuchel's assessment reportedly stemmed from a specific match during his tenure at Chelsea, though the exact context and Turpin's subsequent performance have not been detailed in this report. The match is scheduled to take place at the Khalifa International Stadium.