Champions League final referee Clement Turpin has been told to not fall for Real Madrid's 'theatrics' against Liverpool.
That is the opinion of former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, who was speaking ahead of tonight's showpiece in Paris.
Turpin took charge of last season's Europa League final between Manchester United and Villarreal, who won on penalties after it finished 1-1 after extra-time. But this evening's game will be the biggest of his career.
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But the French official has had experience of a Champions League final before. He acted as the fourth official when Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 in Kyiv in 2018. It was a game that was overshadowed by the shoulder suffered by Liverpool star forward Mohamed Salah following a foul by Sergio Ramos.
And Clattenburg has called on Turpin, who will officiate at this year's World Cup in Qatar, to be wise to anything Madrid's players try and pull in tonight's final.
"If Liverpool leave this final feeling robbed by the referee, you can imagine the comments," Clattenburg told the Daily Mail. 'At least Dick Turpin wore a mask'. But hopefully France's Clement Turpin will have no such issues.
"He isn't the most popular among French fans. But UEFA consider Turpin one of the best in Europe — hence his appointment for the Europa League final between Manchester United and Villarreal last season. That didn't end well for the English.
"Likewise he was fourth official for the 2018 final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, and we know how that ended. Liverpool will hope Turpin doesn't fall for any Real theatrics on Saturday night. He should oversee a fine final."
Liverpool will be looking to add the Champions League to the FA Cup and Carabao Cup trophies they won earlier this season. Victory over Carlo Ancelotti's side will complete a remarkable treble in a season where Jurgen Klopp's team were just one point behind Premier League winners Manchester City.
