In what is being perceived as a deeply unsettling development for the Italian national team, the same referee who presided over their notorious 2022 World Cup play-off semi-final defeat against North Macedonia has been selected to officiate Tuesday’s crucial play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Why Clement Turpin’s Appointment is Worrying for Italy
French official Clement Turpin has been named as the referee for Italy’s upcoming play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is scheduled to kick off at 19:45 BST on Tuesday evening. Turpin will be joined by assistant referees Nicolas Dagos and Benjamin Pages, with Jose Maria Sanchez from Spain acting as the fourth official. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties will be handled by Jerom Brisard and Willy Delajod.
Alarmingly for the Azzurri, Turpin was also the man in the middle during their infamous 1-0 loss to North Macedonia in the 2022 World Cup play-off semi-final. That shocking defeat cost Roberto Mancini’s side, who were then the reigning European champions, a place at the final tournament later that year.
The match concluded in heartbreak for Italy, as former Palermo striker Aleksandar Trajkovski scored a decisive goal in the 92nd minute, preventing the Azzurri from qualifying for the World Cup for the second consecutive cycle.
Italy’s absence from the final World Cup tournament now spans 12 years, dating back to the 2014 competition in Brazil. They haven’t featured in a knockout game at the World Cup in two decades, since famously beating France in the final to claim the trophy in 2006.
This time, Gennaro Gattuso and his squad must travel to a currently frozen Zenica to face Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a spot at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada on the line.
The Nazionale finished second behind Norway in their World Cup qualifying group, condemning them to the play-offs for the third tournament cycle in a row. They secured their place in the final by defeating Northern Ireland 2-0 in Thursday evening’s play-off semi-final in Bergamo, thanks to second-half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.
Bosnia, meanwhile, earned their spot by eliminating Wales on penalties in Cardiff.