England’s opening World Cup match against Croatia is set to be officiated by Clement Turpin, with multiple reports noting that Turpin has previously been criticised by Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel. Turpin is appointed referee for the game on Wednesday, according to the BBC and Yahoo Sports. Both outlets report that Tuchel once referred to Turpin as a “Grade E” official, a label mentioned in connection with Turpin’s past performance. The reports do not add further context on how the grading was assigned, whether it reflected a single incident, or how it compares with current standards and assessments. The appointment places Turpin in charge of a high-profile match for England, while the prior “Grade E” comment from Tuchel is highlighted as background. Neither source indicates any change to the referee’s appointment or suggests the comment affects the officiating assignment for the England-Croatia fixture.