Former FIFA referee Jonas Eriksson claimed he only became a referee because he hated them growing up. Eriksson was a hugely successful referee and was a full international official from 2002 until 2018 when he retired from the game. The Swede was selected for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 European Championship. He also refereed the 2013 UEFA Super Cup between Chelsea and Bayern Munich and the 2016 Europa League final which saw Sevilla beat Liverpool 3-1. It wasn't just refereeing that was his strong point with Eriksson also becoming a millionaire after he sold his 15% stake in a Swedish sports media rights business for around £6million.
In an interview with Spintso back in 2022, Eriksson revealed the reason behind why he became a referee, he said: “Simple, really. I was very angry on the pitch as a player. I shouted, scolded, played hard and was mad at all the referees who were rude and cocky. I hated referees who came 5 minutes before the match started, nonchalant and never answered questions. Then I thought that it can't be that damn hard not to be like they were. The judgments I had weren't as bad as it sounds now, but that's how I perceived it as a 13-year-old when I was angry and frustrated, simply a winner. I started refereeing because I thought: it can't be that hard. So, I attended a refereeing course organized by my association and started refereeing. I noticed that if I don't do what my colleagues do, this will be fine.
“Sure, it wasn't as easy as I thought, but there was still something in it. That I was on the field thinking a lot about the questions What is it like to be a player? If I had played, how would I have wanted to be treated then? Then I changed sides with myself and thought about it, for example, when a player came up and scolded and was angry. If I were this player now, what would I want to hear from the referee. I was still playing and could easily put myself inside a player's head. I was still an angry player on Saturday and refereed football on Sunday. In order to understand another person, you should have been in the same position yourself, which I absolutely was.” The criticism of referees and the interpretations of some laws could be attributed to the lack of footballing experience that some referees have that leaves them seemingly unable to understand a player’s emotions, actions or mistakes when making decisions. Although he has been subject to criticism throughout his career alongside almost every other referee, the Swede’s journey to the pinnacle would have undoubtedly been helped by his understanding of the game as a player.
Eriksson found his way to earn some extra cash during his refereeing days after he sold his 15% stake in a sports media rights business for around £6million. Back in 2013, he said: “All the money hasn't changed anything, the best thing I do in my life is still refereeing football.”
Source: Daily Star