ENGLAND will face Italy in the Euro 2020 final under the command of referee Bjorn Kuipers, a multi-millionaire supermarket owner.
The Dutchman, 48, was estimated to be worth £11.5million back in 2016 and is well known in his hometown as an entrepreneur.
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Born in Oldenzaal near the border with Germany, he owns and runs the town’s supermarket and hair salon with wife Marlies.
Kuipers is a franchise owner of the local Jumbo store, a supermarket chain that operates across the Netherlands and Belgium.
Such is the official’s business nous, he was named the best Jumbo franchisee in the country in 2016.
He may have studied business at university but the whistle was always calling.
Kuipers’ family has a rich heritage of refereeing and his grandfather, Andries van Leeuwen, took charge of Tottenham’s Cup Winners’ Cup victory over Atletico Madrid in 1963.
Making his professional debut in 2002, he was elevated to the Eredivisie three years later and took charge of 20 top-flight games last season.
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Fifa called the ref up to their international list in 2006 and he is no stranger to the big event.
Kuipers’ CV includes the 2013 and 2018 Europa League finals, the former being won by Chelsea against Benfica.
The 2014 Champions League final, between Real Madrid and Atletico, also took place under his watch.
He oversaw England Under-21s’ 4-0 rout at the hands of Germany in the 2009 U21 Euro final, a game which featured Manuel Neuer and Mats Hummels but none of the current Three Lions squad.
Gareth Southgate’s side had better luck when Kuipers officiated their 2018 World Cup quarter-final victory over Sweden, as did the Under-20s in their 2017 final triumph over Venezuela.
Italy missed the tournament in Russia having fallen in qualification, which included a 3-0 loss to Spain under the Dutchman’s command.
France have also beaten the Azzurri with Kuipers in the middle yet he did oversee their win over England in the 2014 World Cup group stage.
At Euro 2020, he has watched Denmark lose to Belgium and beat Czech Republic, as well as Spain’s 5-0 romp past Slovakia.
Dutch officials Sander van Roekel and Erwin Zeinstra will run the line at Wembley.
Spain’s Carlos Del Cerro Grande will be fourth official with the German Bastian Dankert in charge of VAR.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
