2026 World Cup, Norway vs. England: Turpin Sparks Controversy Once Again
He was the referee for the Bosnia-Italy match, and unlike the Azzurri—who were selected at the time by head coach Gennaro Gattuso—he secured his spot for the 2026 World Cup. But even in the quarterfinals, he continues to be a topic of debate. Clément Turpin was assigned to the highly anticipated Norway-England match, drawing attention for a decidedly controversial call in the 36th minute of the sweltering game in Miami. That was the minute when Schjelderup put the Scandinavians ahead by beating Pickford (who had just that evening broken Peter Shilton’s record). However, the French referee drew attention for failing to call a possible foul on Kane, who had previously remained on the ground after contact with Berg. VAR confirmed the goal was legitimate.
This isn’t the first time Turpin has found himself in the eye of the storm in high-stakes matches. His track record includes controversial incidents involving Italian clubs: from the uncalled foul on Bennacer in the 2021–22 Champions League match between Porto and Milan—with VAR remaining silent—to the red card shown to Hummels in the second leg of the round of 16 between Athletic and Roma, a decision critics immediately deemed questionable. His appointment to the Bosnia-Italy match last March had already sparked debate: he was the referee for Italy vs. North Macedonia in 2022, the match that went down in history for the Azzurri’s sensational elimination from the World Cup.
The context in which the match was played at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium made everything even more complicated. The match was played under extreme weather conditions, with a heat index nearing 44°C due to the extremely high humidity typical of South Florida at this time of year. The City of Miami had issued an official advisory to the public that same day, urging residents to stay hydrated as much as possible and to limit outdoor activities. FIFPRO, the global players’ union, had in turn called for matches to be rescheduled if temperatures exceeded 28°C.
The challenges weren’t limited to the heat. The Norwegian team’s preparations had been marred by a stomach virus that had affected several members of the squad following their historic victory over Brazil, with some players struggling with exhaustion, stomachaches, and mild fevers. Head coach Stale Solbakken himself was not at his best and could not hide the problem during the press conference. Among those most affected was Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, who started on the bench, while Haaland—who had scored seven goals in the five matches played in this World Cup—had not experienced any symptoms.
On the English side, Tuchel had been forced to do without two key players. Defender Jarell Quansah was serving the second of a two-match suspension imposed by FIFA following his red card against Mexico, a decision that had infuriated British fans, especially in light of the treatment meted out to the American Balogun, who was spared after Donald Trump intervened directly with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Jordan Henderson was also out; during the post-match celebrations at Azteca Stadium, he had slipped and fractured his left forearm, but chose to remain at the team’s training camp to support his teammates.
