England’s Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday will be officiated by French referee Francois Letexier.
Gareth’s Southgate’s side reached the Berlin showpiece by virtue of beating the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday night.
That game featured a highly-controversial refereeing decision, as German official Felix Zwayer awarded England a penalty for a foul on Harry Kane.
Meanwhile, Spain have won all of their six Euro 2024 matches and go into the final as favourites.
Here’s everything you need to know about Letexier and the officiating team for the Euro 2024 final.
Who is Francois Letexier?
Letexier is a 35-year-old French referee, who predominantly officiates in Ligue 1 but has been on the Fifa international match roster since 2017.
He is the youngest referee to take charge of a game at Euro 2024, something of an officiating prodigy if there is such a thing.
Born in Brittany in north-west France, the final will be the biggest match Letexier has ever taken charge of, but he was fourth official for last season’s Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
He also refereed the 2021 and 2024 Coupe de France finals and was VAR in the 2021 Europa League final in which Manchester United were beaten by Villarreal.
A court bailiff when he’s not officiating, Letexier will have no issue with laying down the law in Berlin – he once handed out four red cards in one Ligue 2 match between Saint-Etienne and Le Havre in 2022.
Letexier is also one of the referees selected to officiate at this summer’s Olympics in Paris.
And at the Olympiastadion on Sunday, he will be joined by his assistants throughout this tournament – French duo Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni – as well as Polish official Szymon Marciniak.
Marciniak has been named “World’s Best Referee” by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics in both 2023 and 2024.
The 43-year-old oversaw the 2022 World Cup final and 2023 Champions League final, so will have no issue with the occasion.
Who is the VAR for England’s Euro 2024 final vs Spain?
Letexier will be supported by fellow Frenchman Jerome Brisard as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) on Sunday.
Brisard is also a Ligue 1 referee and was a VAR during Euro 2020, as well as throughout this tournament.
He will be joined by VAR assistant Willy Delajod and Italian Massimiliano Irrati as VAR support.
Which Euro 2024 games has Francois Letexier officiated so far?
Letexier has overseen three matches so far at Euro 2024.
These were two group games: Croatia’s 2-2 draw with Albania and Denmark’s 0-0 against Serbia, alongside Spain’s last-16 victory over Georgia.
He has utilised a relatively light-touch approach in Germany so far, handing out just 10 yellow cards across his three matches and no reds.
This indicates he will be comfortable with letting the game flow in Berlin on Sunday.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/dYeQbxJ
Post a Comment