The assignment would fit Turpin’s standing in European football. The French official has reportedly handled the Europa League final in 2021 and the Champions League final in 2022, fixtures that demand authority, composure and a willingness to make difficult calls.
His previous England connections are also notable:
That background explains why he remains trusted for high-profile appointments, even when his decisions attract scrutiny.
The flashpoint came during Bayern’s Champions League tie with Manchester City. The report says Tuchel was dismissed after receiving two yellow cards and reacted angrily to Turpin’s handling of the game.
“Ele apitava tudo e qualquer coisa. Tudo era contra nós. No fim, nunca estivemos em condição de virar o jogo com três homens contra nós. Isso é um fato,” Tuchel added.
The grievance was public and unusually severe, but football rarely allows old arguments to remain private. Any interaction between the pair will inevitably be watched for signs of tension, even if both insist the past is finished.
For Tuchel, the challenge is straightforward: keep the focus on England’s performance rather than the referee’s history. Turpin’s firm approach has reportedly brought him into confrontations with players such as Jude Bellingham, making discipline and emotional control especially important.
The next storyline will be whether the Norway-England match produces a new chapter-or finally closes the old one.