Urs Meier: Navigating pressure – making decisions in challenging situations.
Born in Zurich in 1959, Urs Meier is married and a father to two grown children and a younger one named Blu. He was recognized as one of the top referees worldwide for many years. Upon reaching the age limit of 45, he concluded his FIFA refereeing career in 2004 and has since focused on advancing the professional development of referees active on the international stage.
Urs Meier Lecture Topics
- You embody the decision
- Between opposing forces – making decisions under pressure
Urs Meier – Former football analyst at German broadcaster ZDF
From 2005 to 2021, Urs Meier served as a football expert at ZDF, providing commentary on international matches, European Championships, and World Cups. Since the 2018/2019 season, he has also co-commentated on all Champions League games alongside Marcel Reif for the Swiss private channel Teleclub. Additionally, Urs Meier contributes as a referee expert for the weekly magazine FOCUS, where he writes columns and offers insights on current referee-related topics and decisions. In 2006, Urs Meier, together with Jürgen Klopp and Johannes B. Kerner, received the German Television Prize for their contributions to ZDF’s coverage of the 2006 World Cup.
Urs Meier: “I have learned how to make decisions, cope with losses and errors, and perform under pressure. When 60,000 fans are against you, players oppose you, and you must decide within split seconds, that is true pressure.”
Urs Meier is a sought-after speaker at corporate events, conferences, and congresses. He offers his audience fascinating insights into the world of impartiality. Using anecdotes and thrilling game moments, he illustrates the parallels between football and business: the referee acts as the game director, leads players like a collegial manager, and must make numerous decisions under pressure. Fair play remains the guiding principle in both success and adversity.
Urs Meier presents contemporary management topics from a fresh perspective in an engaging and relaxed style.
He draws on his own leadership experience, having managed a successful medium-sized company specializing in household appliances and kitchen construction for many years. He sold this business in 2010.
Urs Meier: My life on the ball.
Urs Meier started his refereeing journey in 1977 with the ambition to officiate at the 1998 World Cup. In 1994, he took a significant step toward this goal by becoming a FIFA referee. That same year, he made his international debut in the England U16 versus Ireland match. Four years later, he was selected by FIFA for the World Cup in France as planned. His exceptional performance during the tournament, especially in the politically sensitive USA vs. Iran match, brought him international recognition.
Awards Urs Meier
- Ranked second best referee worldwide in 2002
- Recipient of the German Television Award in 2006
- Seven-time Swiss Referee of the Year
- Golden Honorary Member of the Swiss Football Association
Following the World Cup, Urs Meier officiated in the Champions League and UEFA Cup, and also refereed at the 2000 European Championship in the Netherlands. In 2002, a panel of experts named him the second best referee globally. In December 2004, after more than 880 matches, he concluded his refereeing career with the game between FC Basel and FC Thun.
Urs Meier is recognized as an outstanding speaker and a clear analyst. The Süddeutsche Zeitung described him as a “talented speaker with wit and self-irony” who skillfully translates his messages “from the green football pitch to everyday life.”
