Clément Turpin named world’s best referee, but what does it mean? | OneFootball

Clément Turpin has been named the IFFHS world referee of the year for 2025, with François Letexier finishing joint second alongside Szymon Marciniak. Letexier won the award in 2024. Stéphanie Frappart, a five-time past recipient, is second in the women’s ranking.

According to L'Équipe, the IFFHS, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, is a private body founded in 1984 and based in Zurich. Its operations are understood to be run from Saudi Arabia, the country of its president, Saleh Salem Bahwini.

The organisation has gained visibility because FIFA regularly cites its research and rankings. It was the first to formalise an annual best referee award in 1987, with the women’s category added in 2012.

Former international referee Saïd Ennjimi views such recognition as valuable for an often isolated profession, saying it can help morale. He also believes Turpin and Letexier may be exceptions that conceal deeper issues.

Bertrand Layec, another former international now Croatia’s national refereeing director, considers the prize credible. He notes French officials had scarcely been honoured by this body for around 30 years, with Michel Vautrot last recognised in 1988 and 1989. While its criteria are its own and not widely known, he says most great referees, such as Pierluigi Collina and Vautrot, have been crowned.

Source: L'Équipe