Urs Meier

About Urs Meier

Urs Meier started his career as a football referee in 1977, after having accepted that his talent as a football player is limited and not sufficient for a top player. At that time, already, his target was to be one of the top referees being nominated for the FIFA World Cup 1998.

1994 the decisive step was taken. He was selected to be among the FIFA referees. In the same year, his first international nomination to lead the U-16 match England vs. Ireland. In addition to that he was assigned four UEFA Cup matches in that same year.

For years later Urs Meier reached his goal. The FIFA selected him as a referee for the World Cup in France. His excellent performance in the politically brisant match USA vs. Iran rendered Urs Meier even better known on an international level and also in the second round game Danmark – Nigeria.

After the FIFA World Cup 1998 international challenges became a regular part of his ref activities. He led 42 Champions League matches for example 7 semi-finals 1997 Manchester United – Borussia Dortmund, 1998 AS Monaco – Juventus Turin, 1999 Juventus Turin – Manchester United, 2000 Valencia – FC Barcelona , 2001 Valencia – Leeds United, 2003 Juventus Turin – Real Madrid, 2004 AS Monacao – Chelsea and 2002 CL-Final Real Madrid – Bayer Lerverkusen, UEFA Cup games and was assigned the matches Netherlands vs. Denmark as well as England vs. Romania during the Euro 2000 in the Netherlands, USA – South Korea and the semi-final Germany – South Korea at the World Cup 2002 in Japan/South Korea and three games at the EURO 2004 in Portugal with Spain – Russia, Italy – Sweden and the unforgettable quarter-final England – Portugal.

After being nominated to be among the international Top Ten referees in 2001 already, a jury of experts named him to be the second best referee in the world.

In December 2004 – after having led more than 883 matches – Urs Meier’s career as a referee came to an end with the match Basle vs. Thun.

As during his career as a sportsman, already, Urs Meier continuous to own and lead a medium-sized business. In addition to that, since 2005 he can be regularly seen on ZDF, the second German TV Programme, where he is in charge as a co-reporter and football expert for international football events, also for the European Championship and Worldcup. Furthermore he is a highly demanded speaker for seminars and congresses.