Björn Kuipers will end his career as a referee next week. The 48-year-old top referee whistles his last match with the duel for the Johan Cruijff Scale between Ajax and PSV. He looks back with pride on more than fifteen years as a referee at the highest level.
Kuipers was the first Dutch arbitrator to whistle for the European Championship final this summer. Italy took the lead against England after penalties. The Oldenzaal arbiter received many compliments after that game. “It has been nice,” says Kuipers on Thursday in The Telegraph. “Sometimes they say that you should stop at your peak. And in that regard, there is no better moment than this.”
“I could never have imagined that I would have such a wonderful career. Italy-England really feels like the crown on my work and I will never forget it.” Kuipers participated in a total of five final tournaments. He also refereed the 2014 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid (4-1) and the 2013 Europa League final between Chelsea and Benfica (2-1)
The battle for the Johan Cruijff Scale will therefore be his last piece of art. “I have indicated that I would like to whistle in a full stadium in the Netherlands. And then Ajax – PSV is of course a wonderful poster.” The duel season will be played on Saturday, as Roger Schmidt’s team has advanced to the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
“And after that? I would like to do something in arbitration, nationally or internationally. What? Let me think about that for a while,” emphasizes Kuipers.
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