The supermarket-owning referee has $16 million and is most certainly not for sale
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 09.07.21. | 09:52
Dutch whistler Bjorn Kuipers, who will take charge of England's Euro 2020 final versus Italy, is the world's richest referee
Whenever an official's decision goes against your team, you tend to say that the opponents must have bought the referee. Those shouts are a product of frustration and anger, but in reality, referees who officiate high-profile matches don't need anyone's cash. But compared to Dutch ref Bjorn Kuipers – other referees and most footballers are poor.
Kuipers, who holds a degree in business administration, showed his healthy business sense when he co-founded supermarket chain Jumbo Kuipers in his native country. Jumbo Kuipers chain even sponsors Dutch Formula 1 star Max Verstappen. Kuipers is the world's richest referee.
If Chief Constable Makkelie cannot control the Englandogs… there is one man who can😈 behold, the Terminator of Twente, Bjorn Kuipers🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/6AlTTadBCI
— Luuk (@Goldmember1888) July 7, 2021
One thing is sure - Bjorn is not working as a referee to put food on the table and pay his rent. He has enough money in the bank to comfortably retire. When we say enough, we mean millions of dollars. According to reports from 2016, Kuipers was worth $16 million - and his wealth has only risen since.
But it's not all about money. Kuipers loves the game so much and has risen in stature and was in charge of some crucial matches in recent years. He relishes chances to officiate massive fixtures - and they don't come much more significant than Sunday night. Kuipers is the man who will join Harry Kane, Giorgio Chiellini, Raheem Sterling, Federico Chiesa and the others at Wembley Stadium this weekend.
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Kuipers is a well-respected referee, but he has had his share of controversy. Two months ago, after refereeing Manchester City's Champions League semi-final win against Paris Saint-Germain, he apparently told Paris players Marco Verratti and Leandro Paredes to "f*ck off" during the game. After hearing his players' accusations, Paris boss Mauricio Pochettino urged UEFA to investigate the referee's actions. But it came to nothing. To make Sunday's final even spicier - Verratti is almost certain to play for Italy.
With a game so important, you simply have to have a foul-mouthed multi-millionaire dishing out yellow cards and telling the world superstars to behave.
