Being a referee is a tough job in any
sport, but especially so in soccer, where the disrespectful players, combative
fans, an overwhelming media attention make you wonder exactly what sort of
person would willingly take up such a thankless position. A love for the sport
is a prerequisite, but in the case of Swede Jonas Eriksson, you have to wonder
how much he must love the sport given that he's an independently wealthy
millionaire.
It's true that many referees manage
games as a hobby, but it's rare for one to have such a notable private life. A
former shareholder in a Swedish media company with offices in Stockholm, Hong-Kong and Dubai, Eriksson sold his 15% share a number of years ago for about $10
million.
While many would retire with that sort
of windfall, Eriksson instead decided to change careers, commenting that,
"I've had a fantastic life as a businessman... but since 2011, I've
dedicated myself to being a professional referee and I'm having the time of my
life."
For the most part, Eriksson is a
confident, respectful referee, save for a number of controversial decisions,
including a run-in with Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini. After
Eriksson sent off Martin Demichelis during a crucial Champions League match
against Barcelona in 2014, Pellegrini commented that, "It was not a good
idea to put a referee from Sweden in charge of such an important match."
Eriksson's bank account might be larger
than that of some players, but that doesn't make him any less committed to the
game. In fact, with match fixing and bribery probes grabbing headlines across
the world, Eriksson might be the perfect referee.
As Eriksson said himself, "All the
money hasn't changed anything, the best thing I do in my life is still
refereeing football."
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