Cryptic crossword clue
A tranquil ref gets rattled in cup match 12

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word QUARTERFINAL

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
Q
U
A
R
T
E
R
F
I
N
A
L

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "cup match" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case cup match = quarterfinal.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does QUARTERFINAL mean?

QUARTERFINAL noun
  1. One of the four competitions in a knockout tournament whose winners go on to play in the two semifinals.

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