Björn Kuipers

Björn Kuipers

Björn Kuipers in 2013
Full nameBjörn Kuipers
Born28 March 1973
Oldenzaal, Netherlands

Björn Kuipers (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbjʏrn ˈkœypərs]; born 28 March 1973) is a Dutch football referee. He is an enlisted FIFA referee since 2006. He refereed the 2011 UEFA Super Cup, the 2013 UEFA Europa League Final, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Final, and the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final.

Early life and career

Björn Kuipers is born on 28 March 1973 in Oldenzaal in the Netherlands. His father was a football referee.

Kuipers studied business administration the Radboud University Nijmegen and besides adjudicating he was co-owner of three C1000 supermarkets and a hair studio in Oldenzaal.

Football referee

Kuipers is enlisted as a FIFA referee since 2006.[1]

Matches he refereed include finals in the 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship[2] and matches in the UEFA Cup, UEFA Europa League,[3] UEFA Champions League,[4] FIFA Confederations Cup and UEFA European Football Championship. Kuipers is on the A-list (the top table) for football referees from the KNVB.[5]

On 14 January 2009 the leader of the technical staff of the referees of the KNVB, Jaap Uilenberg confirmed that Kuipers was promoted to the highest class within European football. Kuipers is one of the only three Dutchmen who is active on the highest European level.[6]

At UEFA Euro 2012, Kuipers was notably in charge of the Group D match between France and co-hosts Ukraine. In that match, Kuipers took the rare step of suspending the match due to a torrential electrical storm.[7][8]

Kuipers was in charge of the 2011 UEFA Super Cup, the 2013 UEFA Europa League Final between Benfica and Chelsea,[9] and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Final between Brazil and Spain.[10]

On 7 May 2014, he was appointed to referee the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.[11]

Mr. Kuipers refereed the 2014 World Cup Group E game between Switzerland and France and the Round of 16 clash that saw Colombia eliminate Uruguay, 2-0. He also appeared on the cover of the 2014-2015 FIFA Laws of the Game publication.

References

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Wolfgang Stark
UEFA Europa League Final referee
2013
Succeeded by
Felix Brych
Preceded by
Martin Hansson
FIFA Confederations Cup Final referee
2013
Most recent
Preceded by
Nicola Rizzoli
UEFA Champions League Final referee
2014
Most recent