Former FIFA referee, entrepreneur, football expert for ZDF, Blue TV and DAZN, referee expert for the Blick, former head of Swiss elite referees, presenter, author, keynote speaker.
Topics:
Whether as a successful businessman, in the stadium in front of over 60,000 spectators, in front of millions of self-proclaimed experts on screen, as a consultant to FIFA and UEFA, or as a commentator for ZDF – Urs Meier knows what it means to deal with enormous pressure on a daily basis.
As one of the best in the world, he demonstrated in almost 900 professional matches as a referee how to analyze complex situations and make a decision within fractions of a second.
From 2005 to 2020, he commentated on all World Cups and European Championships for ZDF and, in 2006, received the German Television Award for Best Sports Program together with Johannes B. Kerner and Jürgen Klopp. Urs Meier continues to appear as a football expert alongside Marcel Reif on Blue TV. He communicates and sets new standards in modern management based on experience, practical connections, and solution-oriented adaptations from professional sports and modern management.
He has been a sought-after consultant, coach, and keynote speaker for years. The Süddeutsche Zeitung described Urs Meier as a “gifted speaker with wit and self-irony.”
Biography:
Swiss-born Urs Meier began his referee career in 1977 after realizing that his football talent was not enough for a great playing career. He set the goal of officiating at the 1998 World Cup.
In 1994, he took the decisive step in that direction when he was admitted to the circle of FIFA referees. That same year, he officiated his first international match: the U16 game England vs. Ireland. He also refereed four UEFA Cup games in 1994.
Four years later, Urs Meier achieved his goal: FIFA appointed him for the World Cup in France. His outstanding performance in the politically sensitive match USA vs. Iran made Urs Meier internationally known.
After the World Cup, international assignments became the norm: he officiated in the Champions League and the UEFA Cup and led the matches Netherlands – Denmark and England – Romania at the 2000 European Championship in the Netherlands.
Having already been ranked among the international top ten referees in 2001, a panel of experts named Urs Meier the second-best referee in the world the following year — thanks in large part to his confident performance in the Champions League final in Glasgow between Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen and the World Cup semi-final match South Korea – Germany.
In December 2004 — after more than 883 matches and EURO 2004 with the unforgettable quarter-final Portugal – England — Urs Meier ended his referee career with the match FC Basel vs. FC Thun.
Alongside his sports career, Urs Meier successfully ran his own medium-sized company in the kitchen and household appliances sector with 25 employees. He sold the business in 2010.
Today, he is a highly sought-after speaker at companies, conferences, and conventions.
Awards:
Social Involvement:
Urs Meier is also available for Testimonial moderations and workshops.
