The one who is considered by the authorities to be the best French referee will officiate this weekend in Ligue 2, during the Rodez-Bordeaux match.
Elected best referee in Ligue 1 at the UNFP Trophies four times, Clément Turpin was overtaken by François Letexier last season, whether at the UNFP Trophies or in the ranking published by the Federal Referees Commission. The native of Rhône is nonetheless considered one of the very best referees in France and even in the world. Last year, the IFFHS elected him third best referee in the world.
Clément Turpin does not, however, escape controversy. Quite the contrary. Recently, the people of Nice castigated his refereeing during the clash between Olympique Lyonnais and OGC Nice, with Rivière president Jean-Pierre Rivère having very harsh remarks against the Burgundian referee. And next weekend, Clément Turpin will be officiating in Ligue 2. However, this demotion to the antechamber in the elite does not constitute a sanction.
A high-tension match
If the international referee will work in Ligue 2, it is to direct the Rodez-Bordeaux meeting, visibly considered high risk by the authorities. Consequence of the antagonism between the two clubs since the incidents of the 38e day last season. After opening the score for the RAF, Lucas Buades was in fact pushed by a Girondin supporter who had entered the pitch and the match had to be stopped. The start of a series which saw the League hand a losing match on the green carpet to the scapular club, ruining their last hopes of promotion to nothing.
During the first leg at Groupama Stadium, it was Benoît Millot who was designated. And the Ligue 1 referee had no shortage of work, the tensions between the two teams leading to the expulsions of Alberth Elis and Lionel Mpasi. The drama that occurred last weekend with the serious injury of Albert Elis could nevertheless calm things down.
