Anders Frisk
Encyclopedia
Anders Frisk is an insurance agent by trade and a former football referee. Frisk chose to go into early retirement from refereeing due to pressure from death threats made against him and his family. These death threats were made by Chelsea
fans because Frisk sent off Didier Drogba
in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League
against FC Barcelona
. He is fluent in several languages including his native Swedish, English and German.
, and currently lives in Mölndal, his hometown. He began refereeing in 1978 and took charge of Swedish top-division
matches for the first time in 1989. He was awarded his FIFA
badge in 1991. In addition to refereeing at the highest level, Frisk also acts as an ambassador
for the UEFA
/International Committee of the Red Cross
campaign highlighting the plight of children in war. He traveled to Sierra Leone
for a first-hand view of the ICRC's work, and declared himself deeply moved by the scenes of reunited families.
to take charge of matches in the UEFA European Under-16 Championship final round. He became a FIFA
international referee at the age of 28, his first international match was Iceland against Turkey on 17 July 1991. A stint at the FIFA Under-17 World Championship in Japan
two years later was followed by recognition at elite UEFA levels.
in England, Frisk refereed the 3-3 thriller group match between Russia
and the Czech Republic
in Liverpool
.
in France
in 1998 with a back injury, but recovered in time to take charge of the 1999 Confederations Cup final between Brazil
and Mexico
in the Estadio Azteca
, Mexico City
.
final between France
and Italy
at the Feijenoord Stadion
in Rotterdam
. The appointment "brought me out in goose pimples," he was later quoted as saying.
and Japan
: a group match between Brazil and China, and a second-round match between the Republic of Ireland and Spain. The referee for the Final, Pierluigi Collina
, later wrote in his autobiography that Frisk had been the only other official that he had considered to have the credentials to receive the appointment. Later that year, Frisk took charge of the UEFA Champions League
semi-final, second leg between Chelsea
and Monaco
. He also appeared at Euro 2004
, refereeing the semi-final between the Netherlands
and Portugal
and he was fourth official in the final.
On 15 September 2004, Frisk was forced to abandon a match he was refereeing between AS Roma and Dynamo Kiev at the Stadio Olimpico
in the group stage of the 2004-05 Champions League after he was hit by a coin thrown from the stands as he walked off the field at half-time. He was seen to be bleeding quite heavily and subsequently abandoned the match. UEFA eventually awarded the match to Kiev as a 3–0 forfeit, and ordered that Roma play its remaining two home fixtures in the group stage behind closed doors.
and Chelsea, during which he sent off Chelsea's Didier Drogba
for receiving two cautions. Chelsea's manager, José Mourinho
, publicly accused Frisk of having invited the Barça manager, Frank Rijkaard
, into his room at half-time, an act that is against UEFA regulations.
UEFA charged Chelsea with inappropriate conduct following the match. Mourinho received a touchline ban for both legs of Chelsea's quarter-final against Bayern Munich for the suggestion that Rijkaard had entered the officials' dressing room. It was revealed on 7 April that the UEFA venue director, Pascal Fratellia, had observed Rijkaard say hello in the tunnel and then attempt to converse with Frisk about the match on the way to the officials' room. Allegedly Frisk told him that "This is not the place or the moment to talk about the match" and left Rijkaard outside the room.
On 19 December, Frisk was awarded FIFA's Presidential Award
as "recognition for a career cut short following death threats against his family". He presided over 118 international games during his 18 year career.
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
fans because Frisk sent off Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba
Didier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian footballer who plays in the centre forward position. He currently plays for Chelsea in the Premier League, where he is deputy vice-captain, and is the captain and all-time top scorer of the Côte d'Ivoire national football team...
in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. He is fluent in several languages including his native Swedish, English and German.
Career
Frisk was born on 18 February 1963 in the Swedish city of GothenburgGothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, and currently lives in Mölndal, his hometown. He began refereeing in 1978 and took charge of Swedish top-division
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
matches for the first time in 1989. He was awarded his FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
badge in 1991. In addition to refereeing at the highest level, Frisk also acts as an ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
for the UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
/International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
campaign highlighting the plight of children in war. He traveled to Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
for a first-hand view of the ICRC's work, and declared himself deeply moved by the scenes of reunited families.
1991-1993
In 1991, he travelled to SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to take charge of matches in the UEFA European Under-16 Championship final round. He became a FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
international referee at the age of 28, his first international match was Iceland against Turkey on 17 July 1991. A stint at the FIFA Under-17 World Championship in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
two years later was followed by recognition at elite UEFA levels.
1996
Picked for Euro 961996 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1996 UEFA European Football Championship was hosted by England, who won the right to host the tournament ahead of bids from Austria, Portugal and the Netherlands. It was the tenth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and endorsed by UEFA. It was the first to use the...
in England, Frisk refereed the 3-3 thriller group match between Russia
Russia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.
1999
He was forced to miss the 1998 FIFA World Cup1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1998 with a back injury, but recovered in time to take charge of the 1999 Confederations Cup final between Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
and Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
in the Estadio Azteca
Estadio Azteca
Estadio Azteca is a stadium in Santa Ursula, Mexico City, Mexico. It is the official home stadium of the Mexico national football team and the Mexican team Club América.The stadium was the venue for football soccer in the 1968 Summer Olympics....
, Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
.
2000
The highlight of his career came soon after when he was selected to officiate the Euro 20002000 UEFA European Football Championship
The 2000 UEFA European Football Championship, or Euro 2000, was the 11th UEFA European Football Championship, which is held every four years and organized by UEFA, association football's governing body in Europe....
final between France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
and Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
at the Feijenoord Stadion
Feijenoord Stadion
The Feijenoord Stadion, better known by its nickname De Kuip , is a stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands that was completed in 1937. The name is derived from the area "Feijenoord" in Rotterdam, and from the club with the same name .Capacity at completion: 64,000. Maximum capacity: 69,000...
in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. The appointment "brought me out in goose pimples," he was later quoted as saying.
2002-2004
After that appointment, Frisk stayed at the forefront of the European refereeing scene. He took charge of two matches in the World Cup in KoreaKorea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
: a group match between Brazil and China, and a second-round match between the Republic of Ireland and Spain. The referee for the Final, Pierluigi Collina
Pierluigi Collina
Pierluigi Collina is a former Italian football referee. He is still involved in football as non-paid consultant to the Italian Football Referees Association , and is a member of the UEFA Referees Committee...
, later wrote in his autobiography that Frisk had been the only other official that he had considered to have the credentials to receive the appointment. Later that year, Frisk took charge of the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
semi-final, second leg between Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
. He also appeared at Euro 2004
2004 UEFA European Football Championship
The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, better known as Euro 2004, was the 12th European Football Championship, a quadrennial football tournament for European national teams. It was hosted in Portugal, for the first time, between 12 June and 4 July 2004, following its selection by UEFA, in...
, refereeing the semi-final between the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
and Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
and he was fourth official in the final.
On 15 September 2004, Frisk was forced to abandon a match he was refereeing between AS Roma and Dynamo Kiev at the Stadio Olimpico
Stadio Olimpico
The Stadio Olimpico is the main and largest sports facility of Rome, Italy. It is located within the Foro Italico sports complex on the north of the city. An asset of the Italian National Olympic Committee, the structure is intended primarily for football...
in the group stage of the 2004-05 Champions League after he was hit by a coin thrown from the stands as he walked off the field at half-time. He was seen to be bleeding quite heavily and subsequently abandoned the match. UEFA eventually awarded the match to Kiev as a 3–0 forfeit, and ordered that Roma play its remaining two home fixtures in the group stage behind closed doors.
2005
On 12 March Frisk announced his immediate retirement, citing threats made to his family. Two weeks previously, he had been severely criticised by Chelsea fans, players and management following his handling of a UEFA Champions League tie between BarcelonaFC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
and Chelsea, during which he sent off Chelsea's Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba
Didier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian footballer who plays in the centre forward position. He currently plays for Chelsea in the Premier League, where he is deputy vice-captain, and is the captain and all-time top scorer of the Côte d'Ivoire national football team...
for receiving two cautions. Chelsea's manager, José Mourinho
José Mourinho
José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Real Madrid. He is commonly known as "The Special One".Mourinho is regarded by some players, coaches and critics as the best ever coach in football....
, publicly accused Frisk of having invited the Barça manager, Frank Rijkaard
Frank Rijkaard
Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard is a Dutch football manager of Dutch and Surinamese descent and former player. Rijkaard has played for Ajax, Real Zaragoza and Milan, and represented his national side 73 times, scoring 10 goals. In his coaching career, he has been at the helm of the Dutch national side,...
, into his room at half-time, an act that is against UEFA regulations.
UEFA charged Chelsea with inappropriate conduct following the match. Mourinho received a touchline ban for both legs of Chelsea's quarter-final against Bayern Munich for the suggestion that Rijkaard had entered the officials' dressing room. It was revealed on 7 April that the UEFA venue director, Pascal Fratellia, had observed Rijkaard say hello in the tunnel and then attempt to converse with Frisk about the match on the way to the officials' room. Allegedly Frisk told him that "This is not the place or the moment to talk about the match" and left Rijkaard outside the room.
On 19 December, Frisk was awarded FIFA's Presidential Award
FIFA Presidential Award
The FIFA Presidential Award is an Association football award given annually at the FIFA World Player Gala. It was first awarded by the incumbent President of FIFA Sepp Blatter in 2001, and has been awarded each year since....
as "recognition for a career cut short following death threats against his family". He presided over 118 international games during his 18 year career.