Urs Meier was a Swiss referee who is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. Since ending his active career as a FIFA-referee, Urs Meier has become a popular keynote speaker and coach. At the age of 16, recognising his lack of football ability, he decided to... Read more
Urs Meier was a Swiss referee who is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. Since ending his active career as a FIFA-referee, Urs Meier has become a popular keynote speaker and coach.
At the age of 16, recognising his lack of football ability, he decided to concentrate on becoming a referee and set himself the goal of refereeing at the World Cup in France in 1998. In 1990 he officiated at his first game in the top Swiss league. In 1994 he covered a number of UEFA Cup matches and international games.
When he was actually elected to the referees panel for the 1998 World Cup, he had already refereed more than 30 international matches. His handling of the politically charged match between USA and Iran brought him international renown.
But Urs Meier has also faced his share of controversy. After a European Championship qualification match between Denmark and Romania, he received heavy criticism in the Romanian press. And after England were knocked out by Portugal in the European Championship 2004, and Meier correctly disallowed an England goal in the 89th minute, he received intense criticism in the English press and even death threats. He considers the high point of his sporting career to be the Champions League final of 2002 between Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, in which Zinedine Zidane scored a brilliant winning goal.
After covering 883 matches, Urs Meier retired as a professional referee in 2004 due to age restrictions. Afterwards he works for several years as a football commentator on German television. With Johannes B. Kerner and Jürgen Klopp he commented the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 and received the 2006 “German TV Award” for the best sports broadcast.
In 2008 he published his best-selling book “Du bist die Entscheidung” (“You are the decision”).
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You can book Urs Meier through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Urs's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Urs Meier's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Urs tailored to your event.
Urs Meier speaks on Motivation. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Urs to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Urs Meier for events worldwide, subject to Urs's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Urs Meier is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Urs can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Urs Meier on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Urs can offer.
Urs Meier delivers keynotes in German. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Urs Meier's areas of expertise include Motivation. To get a clear sense of Urs's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Urs Meier can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Motivation is relevant. Details of Urs's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Urs Meier is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Urs Meier, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Urs's current availability for your dates.