Clément Turpin, the referee of FC Barcelona's nightmares, is the one chosen to officiate today's Barça-Inter match. Madridism celebrates his selection.
The Worst Memories of Barcelona Fans
UEFA has made a move again... and Barça are already trembling. Clément Turpin has been tasked with refereeing the crucial Champions League match between FC Barcelona and Inter Milan.
The choice has quickly raised blisters in the Barça environment.
The reason? Turpin not only represents one of the worst European memories for recent Barcelona fans. He is also considered one of Florentino Pérez's "favorites".
It is not the first time Turpin has crossed paths with Barça with catastrophic consequences. Under his whistle, the Catalan club has suffered painful eliminations, controversial decisions, and refereeing that, according to many, tips the balance.
The Referee of the 4-1 in Rome
The first was in 2018 against Roma. Barça won the first leg 4-1 but lost the return leg 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Barça lost a tie they thought they were winning.
The other stumble was two years ago, at Old Trafford, against Manchester United, 2-1, in the Europa League play-off round.
In contrast, the French referee keeps an almost idyllic relationship with Real Madrid. He has officiated numerous white victories in Europe with hardly any controversy. He was even in charge of delivering justice in the 2022 Champions final that crowned Madrid against Liverpool.
With him as referee, Real Madrid has seven victories and one draw. It was in a controversial 2-2 against Bayern in the first leg of last season's semifinals. He recently officiated in Real Madrid's victory against Manchester City: 3-3 at the Etihad.
His name has always been associated with great nights of Madridism. A detail that fuels suspicions about his impartiality when Barça comes into play.
"The Referee of Failures"
In the corridors of Camp Nou, there is concern with the pass to the semifinals at stake. After the warning that was the refereeing against Napoli, Turpin's appointment sounds like an anticipated sentence.
The press close to the club already labels him as "the referee of Barça's failures." And it's no wonder: every time he appears, the European dream turns into a nightmare.
Meanwhile, in Madrid, the appointment is celebrated. Turpin's name reassures more than one in the capital, who sees in him a guarantee of order and discipline... to Florentino's liking.