But what is Clément Turpin doing at the whistle for the Rodez-Bordeaux match scheduled for this Saturday (7:00 p.m.) for the 27th day of Ligue 2? The 41-year-old from Rhône left the second division in 2009 and over the years became one of the best French referees, to the point of officiating during the 2022 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
The match between Aveyronnais and Girondins will be its first since Lyon-Nice on February 16 in Ligue 1. For his contentious decisions against the Aiglons, Clément Turpin has been under fire from criticism in recent weeks. However, his nomination for a Ligue 2 match does not amount to a form of sanction after this contrasting performance.
Saturday’s duel between Rodez and Bordeaux comes against a backdrop of tensions between the two clubs since a match between them on June 2, 2023. That day, the clash was definitively interrupted after a Girondins supporter had entered the pitch to push Lucas Buades, Rodez player. He remained on the ground for many minutes before being evacuated. The Bordelais, defeated on the green carpet for this incident while they were counting on a victory to hope to move up to Ligue 1, cried foul and accused Buades of having faked his injury.
The reunion on October 28 was tense, with expulsion from each side and a few scuffles. The two teams left back to back (2-2) but not good friends. Enough to fear some friction on Saturday at the Paul-Lignon stadium, and therefore justify the appointment of an experienced referee capable of defusing the pressure. The referee for the first leg was Benoît Millot, also more accustomed to Ligue 1.
The fact remains that the meeting will be the first for the Girondins since the terrible accident suffered by their striker Alberth Elis. Seriously injured in the head at the very start of the match against Guingamp last Saturday after contact with a defender, the Honduran was operated on and placed in an artificial coma. The club published a press release on Sunday indicating that it was “impossible to comment on the vital prognosis” of the player. This Tuesday, President Gérard Lopez called for restraint on the dissemination of information, citing “dignity”. There is no doubt that the Bordeaux group is very affected by the situation of Elis, and that the “rivalry” with Rodez will take a back seat.
