Björn Kuipers is waiting for his seventh European competition final – but does not assume that the Dutch referee treats Sunday’s UEFA EURO 2020 meeting between Italy and England at Wembley as a single task.
The referee card presented by Björn Kuipers, a 48-year-old supermarket owner from Oldenzaal in the eastern Netherlands, is as impressive as a match official could wish for. A UEFA Champions League final 2014; two UEFA Europa League finals in 2013 and 2018; a UEFA Super Cup match 2011; and European U21 and U17 finals in 2009 and 2006 respectively.
By the way, do not forget his selection for referee teams at EURO 2012 and 2016 and FIFA World Cup 2014 and 2018. However, Kuipers says that this latest challenge to handle the biggest match in European national team football has left him as excited as ever.
“I was very emotional when I heard I got this final,” he told UEFA.com. “I was hoping for the chance to judge a EURO final, and I have worked hard with my team to achieve this. It is truly a milestone, a dream, an incredible moment and a great honor.”
Kuipers have had their EURO, taking responsibility for two group stage matches – Belgium’s narrow victory over Denmark in Copenhagen, and Spain’s convincing success over Slovakia in Sevilla – as well as the close-fought Baku quarter-final between Denmark and the Czech Republic. He also acted as the fourth official in England’s initial group victory over Croatia at Wembley. “EURO has been fantastic”, he reflects. “I think the level of referees has been very high. There has been a family feeling among us – referees, UEFA staff, training coaches. Everyone has helped to make this EURO a positive experience.”
Sometimes a simple remark or event can be the catalyst for a change in life. In Kuiper’s case, he was 16 when his father Jan set a new course for him. “I played football as a teenager and I was not the nicest of the guys for the referees,” he recalls. “My father was a judge – he said to me, ‘If you know everything better, then take a judge course and do it yourself. So I did it and it started from there. I’m eternally grateful for what he said to me.”
A new career path lay ahead – but Kuipers admits he never started judging with the goal of aiming for the stars. “I realized when I started that I really liked judges, but originally I never had a goal. It was a case of step by step, wait and see. What helped me was that I had the right people to guide me along the way.” He eventually got his international mark in 2006. “I started to change my way of thinking and set really clear goals when I was lucky enough to be promoted to elite level.”
Since then, Kuipers has never looked back. As one of Europe’s most respected match officials, he has learned to deal with the countless ups and downs of a referee’s life. “You have to be mentally and physically fit and enjoy what you do, otherwise there is no point in being a judge,” he says. “The ability to deal with people is extremely important, as is having an understanding of football. If you can win the trust of the players and spectators, it will make your job much easier.”
Kuipers will be followed at Sunday’s final by a proven and reliable team – Dutch assistants Sander van Roekel and Erwin Zeinstra and Carlos Del Cerro Grande (Spain) as the fourth official. Bastian Dankert (Germany) takes on the role of Video Assistant Judge (VAR) along with Pol van Boekel (Netherlands), Christian Gittelmann and Marco Fritz (both Germany). Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (Spain) completes the line-up as assistant referee.
After being based with the rest of the EURO judges in Istanbul since the start of the tournament, their arrival in London earlier this week has given Kuipers and his team the opportunity to acclimatize when the competition reaches its climax. “We saw the two semi-finals and the atmosphere at Wembley was incredible – so we’re really looking forward to the final now,” he said. “It has been good to have this extra time to focus on the match.”
Björn Kuipers – an international judge since 2006 – takes over his seventh European competition final on Sunday / Stuart Franklin / Getty Images
When will the moment come when Kuipers is fully aware that a great opportunity awaits? “First and foremost when we go out and warm up on the pitch and the crowd starts to grow and everyone is happy,” he says. “But I think I will really realize when I lead the team out, past the trophy and line up for the national anthems.
“In that moment, I will think of all the people who have helped me come here, and especially my family.” Kuiper’s pride at that moment will be shared by his biggest supporter, Mrs Marlies and his two children, who will be at Wembley for the final. “I can not stress enough how important they have been to me,” he says. “They have been there for me and supported me not only when things have gone well but also when I have had difficult times.”
With Kuipers following in the footsteps of Father Jan as a judge, the job really goes in the family – and Marlies himself was already able to know a judge’s life with some clarity. Her grandfather Andries van Leeuwen was a top champion who took responsibility for the 1963 final of the European Cup winners between Tottenham Hotspur and Atlético de Madrid in Rotterdam. “I heard a lot about him,” Kuipers said. “He lived 100 percent for judges.”
Once he has blown the whistle to start action on Wembley’s lush grass, the thoughts of Kuipers and his team will immediately produce a performance that matches the occasion. “Full focus, full concentration from the first whistle to the last,” he explains. “It’s extremely important – you can have a good match for 90 minutes and make all the right decisions, and then something happens right at the end that can ruin all your good work. Teamwork will be crucial, and I feel confident to have teammates that I can trust completely. ”
Is there anything left for Kuipers to achieve at this stage of his refereeing journey, with such a complete list of major matches on his CV? “Let me think about it after EURO,” he says, laughing as he reflects on a referee’s life that has been well worth living. “We have seen everything – we have traveled around Europe and around the world, we have judged good matches with good players and good coaches. It’s a dream to be a judge – it’s a dream to judge a EURO final. I will take care of EURO about what comes when it comes to judges. ”
In addition to his hectic business life, Kuipers – an avid tennis player and mountain biker in his spare time – definitely hopes to be able to give back to referees by imparting his vast knowledge not only to younger referees but also to young footballers who may think it’s better to be a referee than play. “If anyone wants my help, I’m there to give them my knowledge. And if a young girl or boy ever asks for advice on how to become a judge, I would really encourage them to give it a try. ”
“The job as a judge is fantastic. You learn to make decisions, you develop, it makes you a better person. If you want to be a judge, take the chance … ”
