François Letexier to referee Norway-Portugal Nations League clash

François Letexier has been appointed by UEFA to referee the Norway-Portugal Nations League match. The 37-year-old French official will make his senior debut with the Portuguese national team in the game scheduled for Sunday at 19:45 in Oslo.

UEFA confirmed the appointment for the second round of the group stage. Letexier is no stranger to Portuguese football, having officiated 14 matches involving clubs like Benfica, Sporting, FC Porto, and SC Braga. He has also taken charge of two Portugal U-21 matches, both won by the Portuguese side.

Experience in a controversial context

His most high-profile experience with Portuguese teams came in February during the Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid. In that game, Letexier activated the anti-racism protocol following a complaint from forward Vinícius Júnior against Argentine defender Prestianni. His handling of that sensitive episode will now be tested in a different international setting.

The officiating team in Oslo will be predominantly French. Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni will serve as assistants, with Jérémie Pignard as the fourth official. The VAR team will be led by Belgian official Bram Van Driessche, with Nicolas Rainville as AVAR.

Portugal's competitive context

The team arrives in Oslo with high morale after a 1-0 win over Wales on Friday, with a goal from João Félix. Their recent form shows three wins, one draw, and one loss in the last five outings. To consolidate their position in the group standings, Portugal needs a win in Norway to reach 8 points, staying just two behind leaders Colombia.

The Portuguese squad, which includes several players familiar with Letexier's refereeing, now prepares for a test under the watchful eye of the French official.

This story first appeared at A Bola