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In the first edition of our 'Men in Black' feature, in which we take a look at top level referees from across the world, we take a look at the career and life of Jonas Eriksson of Sweden.
NAME: Jonas Erkisson D.O.B: 28/03/1974 (age 41) NATIONALITY: Swedish REFEREEING STYLE: Lenient, low key, authoritative |
Eriksson became a popular figure in the media after it emerged he sold his share in a company for £7 million, earning him the nickname 'the millionaire ref'. He is well liked in refereeing circles due to his ability to keep a low profile and get through a game virtually undetected, whilst at the same time remaining authoritative and gaining the respect of players, a skill that makes him the perfect choice for big match such as Champions League and International tournaments.
However, like all referees, Eriksson has had his share of controversy. He was the man on the end of Manuel Pellegrini's infamous rant following Manchester City's defeat to Barcelona. Pellegrini hit out at both Eriksson's performance and his appointment to the fixture claiming that the 41-year-old should not have been in charge of the fixture because there are 'bigger footballing countries than Sweden'. Despite Pellegrini's remarks, the Swede was selected to referee a Champions League semi-final the same season. |
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At 41, Eriksson is eligible to be selected for both the 2016 UEFA European Championships and 2018 FIFA World Cup, and is likely to feature in both.
The Swede is also yet to take charge of the Champions League final, but it is likely to only be a matter of time before he is handed the prestigious fixture. |