Biography

Urs Meier was born on January 22, 1959 in Würenlos, Aargau, Switzerland.

Former Swiss referee, who served at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan (2002).

Children: Marcia (born 1988) and Cyrill (b. 1990).

Longtime companion of Nicole Petignat, one of the few female referees in male soccer.

Owns a brand of household appliances.

In the Euro 2004 quarter final between England and Portugal, he disallowed a goal by Sol Campbell due to a foul by another English player. After England had lost the game, the English media and fans claimed that his decision was not correct. He received 16,000 abusive e-mails and also death threats, so had to be placed under police protection (June 2004).