ARTUR SOARES DIAS has been selected as a referee for this summer’s Euro 2020.
The Portuguese had served as a VAR official at the 2018 World Cup, so comes into the competition having been at a big one.
Who is Artur Soares Dias?
Soares Dias has been refereeing since 2010.
The star refereed England’s friendly match against Brazil in November 2017, which ended 0-0.
He kept his cards close to his chest that night and only booked Jake Livermore for a late tackle on Neymar.
The 41-year-old has been used an additional assistant referee for several Champions League games.
He refereed a number of Europa League matches during the 2012/13 season.
In 2017, the Portuguese official and his family received death threats before he was due to officiate the Primeira Liga match between Paco de Ferreira and FC Porto.
He is also very experienced in games between English club sides and not shy to make the big decisions.
In April 2021 he took charge of Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Villarreal, sending off a player from both sides and awarding the Gunners a penalty.
What other matches has he refereed at Euro 2020?
Artur Soares Dias has taken charge of one other Euro 2020 game so far – Turkey vs Wales in Baku.
In that fixture he awarded the Welsh a penalty in front of a hostile Turkish crowd, but Gareth Bale squandered the opportunity by blasting it over the bar.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
