François Letexier has replaced Michael Oliver in this game, following a minor injury by the English referee. We wish Oliver a speedy recovery and Letexier a good game!
Match 9
Group E
15 June 2026, 01:00 CET
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
IVORY COAST - ECUADOR
Referee: François Letexier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Ramouni FRA
Fourth Official: Khalid Saleh Al-Turais KSA
Reserve AR : Mohammed Al-Bakry KSA
Vidéo Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett ENG/AUS
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 1 : Willy Delajod FRA
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 2 : Bram Van Driessche BEL
Letexier is also whistling (sometimes) to indicate the start of the 5sec in the throw in. So, it means it’s FIFA normatives…
ReplyDeleteNot a big fan as it makes the referee to whistle too many times
Corner missed by Letexier and Mugnier but very very difficult to detect it live.
ReplyDeleteClip: https://streamable.com/lazlxv
DeleteRather impossible for the officials to see it.
DeleteWell done for properly enforcing the injury protocols
ReplyDeleteMaybe I‘m wrong but imo nothing well done here. The player is standing up immediately and only because Letexier calls the medical team he has to wait 1 minute.
DeleteNext time he will not stay on the ground for nothing, great new rules.
DeleteSorry but no. Only because of equatorian player theatre to fall on ground which was the reason of calling. Well done. That’s exactly the purpose of new rule.
DeleteHe feigned injury while the ball was in a dangerous area in the hope of stopping or delaying the game. There was nothing wrong with him, hence why he got up straight away. It's exactly the sort of gamesmanship the rules were brought in for
DeleteThanks for your comments, it seems I didn‘t understand the rule change and its purpose exactly.
DeleteIt doesn’t matter if you call in medical staff. That’s the new law… if you stop play for an injury or have to delay the restart because of an injury, they must leave. Regardless of medical staff.
DeleteHe doesn't have to wait for the stoppage tro come back on like for the slow substitution?
DeleteRegarding enforcing the injury protocol all fine indeed, but actually ECU#23 should have been awarded a free kick for CIV#5 kicking him. In that case it (probably) wouldn’t have been necessary to call for the medical staff.
DeleteI really like this new rule/law introduced, this will solve much of the time wasting with feigning injuries but peculiar to see the non-application across the first few days?
DeleteJust like the introduction of the goal keeper count down, almost immediate impact on play. I expect this to have a similar impact.
First use of one minut off protocol
ReplyDeleteWell done by Letexier. Clear exxageration and good appliance of new injury protocol.
DeleteAll the referees are letting players dissent too much since the start of the tournament imo. I would like them to more strict on this and give YC more often.
ReplyDelete22' Incident: https://streamable.com/j10w6s
DeleteThe game is going to demand a lot from him. A lot of small conflits in the first 20min
ReplyDeleteI think Oliver would have struggled a lot with his style
Agree. Very good first YC after several oral warnings. Well done.
DeleteClip YC 28': https://streamable.com/dq02j0
ReplyDelete32’ : good no foul decision during Ecuador attack near penalty area.
ReplyDeleteClip: https://streamable.com/0gd317
DeleteClip YC 38': https://streamable.com/uxeegq
ReplyDeleteCLIP YC 40': https://streamable.com/r5dvdu
DeleteVery good YC for Kessié (CIV) who had two clear fouls and a warning and after Doué for the same. Very concentrating and clear disciplinary Line by French referee.
ReplyDeleteThis is the type of approach many of us have been asking for during the early stages of the tournament.
DeleteAgree.
Delete3 YCs for CIV, all correct. It must be said that they play "dirty"
ReplyDeleteAgree.
DeleteI think it’s a bit harsh to call them dirty, clearly a physical team and trying to impose themselves on the game as they lack the possession. To call them dirty, is harsh in my book
DeleteSo violent conduct against the referee is not dirty? See Kessie deliberately hitting the referee after a decision he didn’t like vs France in international friendly a week ago. I think it’s fair to call their “style of play” dirty. You can tell from Kessie’s demeanor after being booked by Letexier for a blatant step on the foot that he has zero respect for referees.
DeleteAlso embarrassing that FIFA allowed him to get away with that.
DeleteApart from the missed corner kick, this was a more than solid — indeed excellent — performance from Letexier. He first managed the game through preventive refereeing and clear communication before issuing three firm and fully justified cautions to Ivorian players whose challenges were becoming far too aggressive. His usual physical presence and dynamic movement were once again exemplary. The French referee also applied the new “feigned injury” rule perfectly. In my view, this was an outstanding first half with a final warning to Côte d’Ivoire coach.
ReplyDeleteSo far, really impressive performance. Not only for his decision accuracy but especially given the behaviour of the players.
DeleteVery very good in what was, for me, the most challenging 45min of the WC so far
+1 +1 +1 +1 +1
DeleteGood first half, no big incident but correct management from him to calm the players, correct YCs. As expected from him.
ReplyDeleteGreat first half performance
ReplyDeleteThat's insulting to claim it's only "great". The first half performance is by far the best half of refereeing I've ever seen.
DeleteKessie has a lot to thank Letexier for. On the second call, a YC could easily have been applied. The French referee's option was to warn him again! On the third call, which occurred minutes later (28'), it would have been a RC!
ReplyDeleteI saw some people observing Elfath's running style in the previous game, but no mention of Letexier, even though both have the same style: they follow the plays from a distance. But the Frenchman has a low and delayed disciplinary line, which bothers me a little; it seems like there's always an OFR helping on the phone.
Correct calls, although he could also have warned the CIV coach and some ECU players for the exaggerated theatrics. I expected him to be more disciplinarian.
We don’t see the same match…His disciplinary line on first half was a model of modern refereeing !
DeleteI think the difference with elfath is that he seemed to be miles away at times. On one stage he produced a yellow card 20 meters away from the player and made no attempt to go towards him
DeleteOn the question of seeing the same match. I think we all have a very technical understanding of the laws and what is expected. But, modern football expects a more fluid view. In fact, I think most spectators and commentators (and for the World Cup, since it is most popular event in the world, many are also casual football fans) would lean on Letexier being harsh rather than leniant.
DeleteHe had no KMI or serious events of course, but it was a good first half for me.
We're watching the same match. The difference is that I don't have a favorite referee to call my own, like some here. In general he was well, my comment is focused only in technical side which can be improved not depreciate him
DeleteSorry but you can’t call the ref « lenient » here when you see others matches especially Vincic. And tell Letexier « refereeing from distance » is simply a joke. He is one of the most dynamic referee in the world nowadays.
DeleteIt’s not the job of the referee to tell the players not to be theatric, in the same way we shouldn’t tell the players what is good or what is bad. That is the identity of the team through the coach and players.
DeleteThe way in which he asked the ECU to leave the field after feigning injury is the perfect way to deal with these incidents & sends more than a clear message for me.
+1
DeleteRemember, Kessie is the same player who committed VC against the referee in international friendly vs France a week ago.
DeleteLooked like 4th official was struggling with subs board there
ReplyDeleteUgh.
ReplyDeleteEvery Letexier (and Turpin) match thread becomes unreadable here. Endless praise and one-man defence campaign. Any criticism survives about 30 seconds before the essays start rolling in. So annoying.
Ridiculous comment. All messages except one praised Letexier for the first half. So please don’t be jealous if the talent of Letexier and his crew are so obvious. Apart one corner missed. ;)
DeleteDon't be jealous. This is the peak of modern refereeing.
DeletePraising for calling correct decisions? I’d say it was more just saying a good first half rather than over the top praise.
DeleteExpected first YC for Ecuador for a blatant pulling. Fine.
ReplyDeleteClip: https://streamable.com/5aknba
DeleteVery good decision by Letexier, you can see that when a card is mandatory, it seems like he already know before that he will have to book the player, that's the top class refereeing. Not even a second of delay.
DeletePotential 2nd YC for Doue ?
ReplyDelete-1
DeletePossible but too harsh with fifa policy…
Delete@Referee analyst
DeleteYC never expected here, completely the right decision from Letexier. Be honest this is never a caution, impossible.
Clip: https://streamable.com/anwj5n
DeleteFor me yes right decision.
DeleteWe know FIFA at world cups don’t like excessive yellow cards, so no surprise seeing the delay of a second yellow for the player.
DeletePossible second YC. Wouldn't have been a mistake to issue it, but for me not mandatory, I agree with you. Differently from the same foul if happeened closer to the penalty area...
Delete2nd yc missed?
ReplyDeleteIf its the trip/arm on shoulder on the far side for the Ecuador FK, then Letexier made a gesture, I think to suggest there were many defenders in the area
DeleteSensational game from Letexier. This is what modern refereeing is all about. Close to the action, strong posture, sharp whistles, flawless vision and elite athleticism.
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+ 1
DeleteMichael Oliver is probably lucky to miss this one. It always looked like a predictable, physical battle rather than an enjoyable football match. Letexier has handled it well so far and having several players from the orange team speaking French is definitely a make easy to communication.
ReplyDeleteCaicedo situation was very avoidable if the referee had simply awarded the foul to Ecuador in the first place. However the overall handling of the incident was excellent. Once play is stopped for an injury, the player should leave the field before re entering, regardless of whether the medical team comes onto the pitch or not. The misconduct decisions were correct, and keeping the second yellow card in the pocket so far has been the right approach no need to issue it for low-impact situations.
+1
Delete+2
DeleteI actually didn’t mind letting the play go here. ECU looking for a soft defensive free kick, letting the players know he understands their sometimes theatrical response to contact and the referee is trying to let the game breathe/flow.
DeleteLetexier has to be early candidate for final if france dont reach. His man mgmt is on par with marciniak with better technical abilities.
ReplyDeleteImpossible, it's reserved to Makkelie. Only if Netherlands reach final it will go to the French.
DeleteAgree. One of the most solid performance with Elfath, Valenzuela and Martinez IMO.
DeleteLet's wait at least the end of the group stage to make candidate for the final we all know that 1 game can change everything.
DeleteTrue crn.ple !
DeleteCongratulations Letexier for securing more appointments this WC, semi final guaranteed. Sadly final impossible because it's already promised to Makkelie (very strong sources on this, because of UEFA Super Cup snub). But Letexier will do at minimum one semi final and most likely also bronze medal game.
ReplyDeleteSome journalists with good connections tell me that there is no such promise at all - and that
ReplyDelete1. Collin wants confederation neutrality for the final and
2. After having a European referee for the final 2022 someone from another confederation is more likely.
I’m thinking the final will be Elfath or Makkelie. Just my guess.
ReplyDeleteLetexier was absolutely superb. Great performance. As a fan of the sport, I especially enjoyed his very proactive enforcement of the timewasting measures. Always very urgent to start counting five seconds. This game could’ve been a bogged down, slow, messy game if not for him. He really did a service to the sport tonight.
ReplyDelete