Meet referee for Euro 2024 final who SLAPPED Haaland and has unusual second job

ERLING Haaland and Phil Foden can tell the England squad that Euro 2024 Final referee Francois Letexier packs a punch.

But what else is there to know about the man who holds the fate of the Three Lions in his whistle in Berlin on Sunday?

Sun Sport reveals the man behind the cards.

So, who is he, then?

Letexier is just 35, from Brittany, and with a young son.

He was the youngest referee in Ligue 1 when he was appointed in 2016 and promoted to the Fifa list only a year later.

That's quick going - anything else about him?

Well, actually, yes. While refereeing is his main job, he's used to sending people down as well as sending them off - his part-time role is as a court bailiff, saying: "It helps me keep a good life balance."

Okay - but what's this Haaland stuff?

Letexier inflamed Manchester City's Norwegian ace during the 3-3 Champions League quarter-final first leg draw at Real Madrid.

The referee was locked in a "disagreement" with Madrid's Dani Carvajal in the first half of that match when he gestured towards the City goal.

Unfortunately, Haaland was walking past, catching a backhand slap in the face. Fair to say he wasn't a happy bunny.

Yes but that was an accident. Has there been anything else to talk about?

Quite a few things, actually. Both in France and internationally.

In October 2022 he made a series of controversial calls in a Ligue 1 match between Nice and Nantes, with the home side the beneficiary of spot kick decisions in both boxes. 

After dismissing Nantes' Kader Bamba and keeper Alban Lafont he received death threats on social media.

Two months earlier he issued FOUR red cards to St Etienne - three players and a coaching staff member - in a Ligue 2 match with Le Havre.

But no issues with English teams then?

Nope. But a big one with an English manager.

In December he became embroiled in a strange spat with then-Reims boss Will Still, who accused him of making "inappropriate" comments.

Still had been targeted by Sunderland as a potential replacement for Tony Mowbray and wanted to quiz Letexier over some of the decisions in a 2-0 defeat by Lens.

The Englishman claimed Letexier responded: "Don't worry, it (the refereeing) will be better in England."

Still added: "I found it funny, or not funny at all. I didn’t find it very appropriate, but it's not a story, it's not interesting."

Letexier subsequently claimed he had been misinterpreted. After leaving Reims, Still eventually signed for…Lens.

Anything else?

Oh yes. May's intercontinental Olympic play-off between Indonesia and Guinea in Clairefontaine saw Letexier award two penalties to the African side, including the match-winner when the foul was outside the box, while also sending off the Indonesia coach.

Are there any reasons to think he could be a good luck charm?

Maybe. Letexier also took charge of last season's Uefa Super Cup Final between City and Sevilla, when the Prem champions won on penalties after  Cole Palmer's second-half equaliser.

Kyle Walker scored City's final penalty while the team included Phil Foden, with John Stones on the bench. Then again, it also included Rodri….