Euro Cup 2024: François Letexier chosen to officiate the mega clash between Spain-England at the final
Xtra Time Web Desk: UEFA has selected French referee François Letexier to oversee the highly anticipated European Championship final between Spain and England. The match is set to take place this Sunday at the iconic Olympiastadion in Berlin.
At just 35 years old, Letexier is one of the youngest referees to ever be appointed to a major final. This places him in stark contrast to his predecessors, who were 48, 41, and 41 years old at the time they officiated the last three men’s Euro finals.
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Letexier has already demonstrated his proficiency and fairness in the tournament by officiating three matches, including Spain’s decisive 4-1 victory over Georgia in the round of 16. Throughout these games, he has maintained a consistent approach:
- No penalty kicks awarded
- No players sent off
- Only 10 yellow cards issued
One notable booking was for Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, who was cautioned for simulation in a goalless draw against Denmark. Letexier's officiating has been devoid of controversy, with no disputed video review decisions, even in the tense 2-2 draw between Albania and Croatia.
Joining Letexier on the officiating team for the final is French VAR specialist Jérôme Brisard. Brisard’s role will be crucial in maintaining the integrity of the match. Notably, Letexier has a reputation for restraint, having shown just one red card in his last nine Champions League and Europa League matches – that being to Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano.
This season, Letexier has been at the helm of several significant UEFA fixtures, including:
- Real Madrid’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinals
- Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-0 victory over Roma in the Europa League semifinals
- The season-opening Super Cup between Manchester City and Sevilla
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Having joined the FIFA list of international referees seven years ago, Letexier has built a commendable reputation in the footballing world.
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak will serve as the fourth official for the final. Marciniak, who refereed the 2022 World Cup final and the 2023 Champions League final, brings a wealth of experience, despite a season marked by some controversial decisions in high-stakes matches involving Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Newcastle.
With a skilled and experienced officiating team led by Letexier, fans can look forward to a well-managed and fair final.
