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
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.
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ReplyDeleteClip 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.
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
Good first half, no big incident but correct management from him to calm the players, correct YCs. As expected from him.
ReplyDeleteGreat first half performance
ReplyDeleteKessie 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
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. ;)
DeleteExpected first YC for Ecuador for a blatant pulling. Fine.
ReplyDelete