Wednesday, 17 June 2026

2026 FIFA World Cup Match 22: England - Croatia (discussion)

Clément Turpin, experienced FIFA referee, is about to offiiciate at his third World Cup. First game will be England - Croatia, a full European clash. 


Match #22
Group L
17 June 2026, 22:00 CET
AT&T Stadium, Arlington
ENGLAND - CROATIA 
Referee: Clément Turpin FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pagès FRA 
Fourth Official: Katia Garcia MEX 
Reserve AR : Sandra Ramirez MEX 
Vidéo Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 1 : Willy Delajod FRA
Assistant Vidéo Assistant Referee 2 : Fedayi San SUI

138 comments:

  1. Clément Turpin with short sleeves, that's not common.

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  2. Happy to see Turpin finaly with short sleeves :)

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  3. Correct PK, well spotted and called with confidence.

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  4. Obvious one but with calm and serenity. Well done pk by Turpin.

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  5. Good job by VAR I guess, impossible on field nobody control that now

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    1. VAR Intervention Clip: https://streamable.com/0510i7

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  6. Very rare these days for a retake as the goalkeepers are so good at staying on their line. Good decision though

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  7. VAR control should be meticulous by Brisard. We have to believe him.

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  8. With that freeze frame, couldn’t really see if the whole foot was past the goal line.

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    1. Agree but have to trust them , with all angles they have they probably got it correct

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  9. It was the encroaching player getting to the ball first

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    1. But Turpin was saying something about the "keeper".... the announcement wasn't clearly heard

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    2. I think he said keeper out

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  10. Does the foot have to be on the line, or is it enough if it is in the air over the line?

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  11. Why don't the referees control the mic? The stadium announcements are always chaotic because they don't know when it's on...

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    1. Agree that is working better with a push to talk button

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    2. In Bundesliga VAR room controls the mic, gives the referee a "start“ signal and it works very good. I cannot understand why FIFA is not able to do it in the same way.

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  12. Just speaking about the announcements: Sorry, but it does not make any sense if you cannot hear the referee, if replays are shown during the announcement. Amateurish management by the TV broadcasters. So far, it‘s so useless…

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    1. I agree with you. It's ridiculous to only have one camera angle to review the penalty. Where are the other angles?

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  13. No way was that an infringement ; England fan here but Keeper saved it very fair and square awful decision for the retake

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    1. No way on your mind ? You are God ? You are in the VAR area with others refs ?

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    2. The Position of the Goal Keeper is checked by the Goal line technology, so it is measured accurately.

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    3. @referee analyst : it's called an opinion - people have them and they differ from person to person

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    4. And your opinion is bad. No worry.

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    5. Oh ? You are god to decide when people can have opinions ?

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    6. Sarish please, you were wrong about this one. The infringement is clear.

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  14. Penalty was retaken because of the defender not because of the GK.
    Wrong graphic was shown...

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    1. Turpin can clearly be heard talking about the keeper though...

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    2. Maybe it’s bad communication between them but he said ‘’keeper out’’

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    3. Just heard what Turpin said, my bad

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  15. Does anyone have a good freeze frame on the reason for the retake? Haven't seen a clear picture yet.

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    1. Brand new replays: https://streamable.com/sxxq9n

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  16. Great pk call, but we have to see what VAR saw! Just one replay yet and that looked like it was a fair save! But it was a bad angle

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  17. Decision on GK was 100 % wrong. Part of the foot was clearly in line. However, defender encroached by touching the penalty area and prevented the attacker from scoring. They were lucky. Correct decision to retake but wrong reason.

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    1. Decision by VAR with Gk is made by GLT so completely accurate. No possibility to have false judgement here…

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    2. According to German television, the goalkeeper is monitored by goal-line technology, and if the goalkeeper is even 1 mm off the line, it is penalized.

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    3. There has just been a replay confirming both feet were off the line

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    4. And we see it now : 100 % correct decision by Brisard ! VG ;)

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    5. +1 - but beware the comments questioning if you are god

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    6. Just say GLT is not a opinion but a technological help. So you can’t tell « no way » here in front of one of the best world VAR with this technology ! ;)

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    7. I take it back. They showed a better replay.

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  18. Better angle shown, good job by VAR

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  19. We finally saw a good angle.

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  20. Look at FIFA's audacity. They only showed a replay with a better angle of Livakovic's encroachment 10 minutes after the penalty. That's terrible management.

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    1. I don’t understand why this is so delayed even for SAOT, they probably have it 5 seconds after the decision taken by VAR. Don’t really understand it tbf.

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  21. Absolutely poor with communication also in terms of translation in other language, in Italian they reported "Fallo sul portiere", that means "Foul on keeper", as motivation for the penalty to be retaken.
    About the announcements that don't work, unfortunately, that's nothing new for me, it was a scandal about that during the full serie A season, more announcements you couldn't hear than the ones working...
    Something must be done for clarity purpose, also, broadcasters who don't have any knowledge about refereeing are in troubles when such incidents happen.

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  22. However, it was a reckless action by Modric, for me missed YC, the kick was given with a certain force, unaware of the opponent, but still a reckless challenge...

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    1. Not sure about that, not deliberate, no violence imo. Good management for this game to not show YC here.

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    2. Disagree. Clearly no intensity on the gesture. No clear force. YC should be awarded but really not mandatory.

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    3. This is not reckless. Clearly wanted to kick the ball and didn’t see the opponent. This isn’t acting with disregard to the danger to an opponent.

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    4. For me it's definitely careless. Acted with a lack of care for the opponent. By definition careless. Contact was minimal

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  23. Why is it so difficult to understand the referees' English?". soo bad

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    1. Turpin have good abilities in english. We saw him numerous Times in uefa referees documentaries in english.

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    2. Don’t think it’s an English problem here

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    3. The issue here really wasn't English... You couldn't even hear him. Like at all.

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  24. In rugby they say "I have a decision" and the commentators shut up and the camera focuses on referee and stadium mic is opened
    But then again we hear the ref throughout in rugby so decisions are much clearer. Even if you don't agree

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  25. Turpin is my favorite referee. So confident, calm and collected.

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  26. Potential foul in app before goal ?

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    1. No good replays shown but a brief delay at ko suggests it was checked

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    2. Yeah agree don’t think there is that much. On Bellingham @referee analyst

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    3. No replays of the incident. Checked live for me nothing.

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    4. Thks @crn.ple ! Didn’t detect nothing live.

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  27. Right faul call for england

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  28. Natural authority and calmness. Turpin is really one of the bosses in world refereeing.

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  29. What a great onside decision

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  30. Replies
    1. Great onside decision by Pagès ! I think foot of defensor is the reason of no offside decision.

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  31. Good pefromance from Turpin in first half,with two VAR corrections, maybe two fouls missed, and one YC. Still,keeping things under control what is good.

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    1. One VAR correction. For goalkeeper, it’s a technological help for a non-human decision ! ;)

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  32. Very tight onside, will probably see replay in second half, for me I couldn't see clearly from the replay.

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  33. An excellent performance from Clément Turpin, combining calmness, composure, authority and clarity by half-time in a match that truly embodies the spirit of football. His natural authority and complete acceptance by the players were evident, even despite the two-step penalty incident. For me, no need to YCarded Modric here: It’s a very solid display from the French refereeing team.

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  34. Very good performance. He is a strong candidate for the final if the équipe Tricolore doesn’t stop him again

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  35. I'm not sure Ref Fot is that is a veiled compliment or you are suggesting he has missed too much. VAR is there to officiate encroachment so it's hardly a correction
    Perfect choice, very good so far

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  36. Wow seeing the 3d graphic it's difficult to imagine a much closer decision

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  37. No, Eng Ref, l like what I saw from him, this things are happening, human beings made mistakes. And yes, if I can select between him and Letexier for final, I will chose second one,because his performance was superb, of course,championship is at beggining. Things will be more clear after GS.

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    1. Letexier will definetly not officiate the final. It‘s his first of maybe three world cups and he has officiate the EURO final two years ago. If he gets a quarterfinal and semifinal he has reached more than 99,999% of the referees in his age (tbh I cannot name any referee in the past 20 years who reach that under the age of 40) and has still goals for the future

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    2. Yes,but it is 21st century and we learn from last championships that everything is possible. So,if by pefromances,he deserve to be in final,he should be there. And yes, I dont think that this guy will lost motivation for this in next 8 years. No matter about age.

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  38. OT : https://x.com/uefa/status/2067322888097522034?s=46&t=Ok5OCp_U1mZPFDKlm4EOGQ RIP Éric Roy, coach of Brest (ligue 1 team) who passed away because of disease at 53. ❤️

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  40. First reliable error with a corner forgiven to Croatia.

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    1. I think it hit the Croatia players knee last. Not convinced that was wrong, would need to see it again

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    2. First thought like you but maybe retouch by Croatia player with his knee

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    3. It hit the Croatia player last for sure

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    4. Croatian player touched the ball last with his knee.

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    5. Oh perhaps, didn’t notice that.

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    6. VAR never misses with factual decisions my friend :-)

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  41. Superb so far, is 100% my pick for the final if France take a surprise early exit which I dont see happening

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  42. The players trust him and are just getting on with it (admittedly I always think England games are easier to officiate than some of the other higher profile nations)

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  43. From an opening game of constant whistling, to some referees running quickly to break situations up despite nothing going on and almost adding heat to calm scenarios, to see Turpin as his usual self is most welcome. A very European style, both the game generally and of refereeing, and the standard of game has been the better for it. Also seems slightly less hot on speeding up stoppages than some, but I don't think that's a bad thing at all. Natural breaks, but not excessive, still following the new instructions

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    1. This is the 1st game ive watched of the tournament that feels like a normal game, everything so far has felt a bit off and manufactured with the stoppages and the new laws etc, Turpin and his style has allowed a flow that the world cup has lacked so far

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    2. I agree A16, first feeling like a normal game is an excellent way of putting it

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    3. Perfect description. No need to hurry it up as no1 was slowing it down

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  44. What a game btw, great from both teams and Turpin knows to not interfere by letting the game flow.

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    1. Best performance so far.... refereeing the game how it should be done

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    2. Agree. Flow for all people !

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    3. Hope all of you watched Ivory Coast Ecuador :)

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    4. Way more fouls and play was stopped more than today imo.

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    5. Yes,becouse that game demanded that,and was more challenging for officiating,than this one tonight!

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  45. 2 super performances today, with Turpin (so far) giving what I think is undoubtedly the performance of the tournament to date and the Qatari referee also giving what I think is up there with the best behind this display from Turpin

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  46. If England make the final we will happily have Turpin 😀

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  47. Best game in the WC so far in terms of team quality as well as refereeing excellence.

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  48. A masterful performance from Turpin and his assistant Pagès on a Superman-like offside decision. The best refereeing performance of the tournament so far in my opinion, ahead of Letexier, Al Jassim, Valenzuela, Martinez and Elfath. Congratulations, Clément, Nicolas, Benjamin and Jérôme (and a little Willy and Fedayi) !

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  49. my opinion: 8,6 UEFA mark for Turpin today.

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  50. if i am not wrong 0 YC this match

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  51. Brillant game from everyone on the Pitch. Perfect Turpin, good foul detection perfectly knows that both teams will agree with a high standard foul detection. Great intervention by VAR for retake the PK. No cards as well. Great game

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  52. Good performance by Turpin in regular intensity game. Calm,confident, correct oenalty called,but two VAR corrections, one for wrongly given corner kick,other one for encroachment of player in penalty siutation. Two mandatory YC missed so I can not call his performance superb, becouse in superb pefromances you do not have VAR correcitons. If ai can compare his and Letexier performance, Letexier was much better in much more challenging game than this, with better fitness, accurate decisions and positioning. About thing that Turpin is favourite for final, after 1 round performances, we can like that or not,there were at least 4 better than him. So,cheers guys, nice to see so much of us enjoy in officiating, and different opinions!

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    1. Who are those 4 if I may ask.... This is also very biased btw, one of those VAR "corrections" is a millimetric infringement on the goalkeeper that wasn't even clear on immediate live replay lol.

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    2. For you information, the encroachment by the keeper is exclusively VAR responsibility to control. AR is at the level of the penalty spot, ready to check for offsides, and no longer on the goal line.
      Plus, 2 mandatory YC ? Where ?

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  53. First class performance from Turpin. Like the champions league final can only hope he is not denied a rightful place in the final should France not be there

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  54. Strangely hes getting slated on X for not using his cards enough.... theres some very strange people on this planet, the same ones would be crying if he gave a card for any foul in that game

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    1. It's amazing how many cards people complain about not being given when you have a few pounds/euro on it ;-)

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  55. Definitely didn't expect this game to be without cards. Turpin did a god job today

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  56. The French football can be proud on having two of the best (maybe even the two best) currently active referees worldwide

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    1. They are hated by French fans in ligue 1…

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    2. Similar to how Taylor and Oliver are hated by Premier League fans... As were Clattenburg and Webb.... very curious.

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    3. It’s because they are famous.

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    4. Brych was also never the most popular referee in Germany but international one of the Best of his time

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  57. IMO excellent performance by Turpin, I enjoyed it a lot. A pleasure

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  58. Guys, what is your top refereeings at this Time ? Mine :
    1. Turpin
    2. Letexier
    3. Al Jassim
    4. Elfath
    5. Valenzuela

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  59. Well my top 5 (without tonight games) would be( full 24 list hope to write tomorrow after tonight peformances):
    1.Letexier
    2.Elfath
    3.Vincic
    4.Martinez
    5. Turpin

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  60. Good performance by Turpin.

    I notice a lot of people criticize the VAR decision announcements in this game and others (technical difficulties, language, ...). IMO I think this is rather useless and should be removed, referees don't announce their "normal" on-field decisions either, so why should they do that for VAR? VAR replays will be shown anyway. What do you think?

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    1. The announcements are 100 % unnecessary. Just att a text that is written in English or the correct language based on the broadcast location. Their announcements are not acceptable and just confuse people.

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  61. A standard Turpin performance, one that fitting with this crazy Collina / Bussaca stance, the art of refereeing is dying, it’s replaced now with 6 supervisors (middle / 2 lines / 4th + VAR + VAR assistant, the actual real art of someone deserving to be called a referee is literally dying before us.

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