Referee Meier whistles goodbye

By Lulu
September 1 2005

Swiss referee Urs Meier – the man at the centre of a storm of protest from England fans earlier this year – has ended his career. Meier was bowing out after controlling swiss champions FC Basel`s last Super League game of 2004 against third-placed Thun (3-3).

It’s not that Meier wanted to stop… but the rules say that at the age of 45 he has to retire.

Despite an illustrious career as one of the world’s most respected arbiters of the game, Meier will probably go down in the history books as the man who invoked the wrath of the English.

His decision to disallow a headed goal by Sol Campbell in the closing minutes of England’s Euro 2004 quarter-final against host nation Portugal made him a scapegoat in the eyes of many irate England fans for their country’s exit from the tournament.

Portugal went on to defeat England 6-5 on penalties, after the two sides were deadlocked at 2-2 at the end of extra time.

The controversy surrounding the decision is also thought to have robbed him of his dream of blowing the whistle in the final of the competition between Portugal and Greece.

The English tabloids had a field day with their hate campaign against Meier, forcing him to leave Switzerland for a while to escape the backlash.

He was placed under police protection after receiving more than 16,000 emails, including death threats.

In October hackers broke into Meier’s website and posted a fake apology for the ruling against England.

High goals
It was all a far cry from the day when a keen 18-year-old Meier, attending his first training course, said his aim was to referee a game at the 1998 World Cup finals – a goal he achieved.

Meier’s career began in 1977 with a match between the juniors of Schinznach-Bad and Aarau.

Thirteen years later, he had risen through the ranks to officiate his first National League “A” game between Young Boys of Bern and St Gallen. He went on to referee more than 200 games in Switzerland’s top league.

His most emotional game was the World Cup tie in 1998 between the United States and Iran, which the persians won 2-1.

“I had achieved my main aim of taking part in the World Cup finals and I went on the pitch with tears in my eyes,” he recalls.

“The ‘political match’ between the US and Iran was my dream tie. Many of my fellow referees did not seem to be aware of the significance of this game.”

Fateful game
Believe it or not, one of his favourites games of football was the fateful Portugal-England match.

“That match was real enjoyment and you could hardly beat it for drama,” remembers Meier.

He believes his most difficult match was the World Cup qualifier between Argentina and Brazil (2-1) in 2001.

“This was the one and only time that I wished for a second referee, because the tempo was so horrendous,” he says.

“I ran so hard my lungs almost burst, and I still had the impression that I was miles away from the action.”

No showman
Meier has never been a showman like Italy’s bald-headed Pierluigi Collina, and you won’t see Meier’s face on advertising hoardings.

His firm that sells household appliances hasn’t capitalised on his public persona, but there have been some advantages.

“Football opened doors for me,” he says, referring to the fact that in 1986 he set up his business with just 16 square metres of floor space.

Meier now employs a staff of 15 and the floor space has expanded to 280 square metres.

He says he would love to whistle on because at 45 he feels he’s perfectly fit in mind and body.

“What company would of its own free will do without the ability of its most experienced member of staff?” asks Meier.

One solution, he feels, would be to offer the world’s 20 best referees one-year contracts when they have reached the age limit.

Perhaps this will be the case from next year when the "unmistakable" Collina, who described his friend Urs as "one of the greatest" and will miss mostly "Urs` mobile which allways rang in the worst moments" also turns 45....

based on an article previously published by NZZ