Dutchman Bjorn Kuipers will referee England’s World Cup quarter-final against Sweden on Saturday. The 45-year-old, a multi-millionaire thanks to a supermarket chain he owns in his home country, will be keen to impress more than American Mark Geiger, who lost control of England’s last 16 game. England beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties after defender Yerry Mina’s injury-time equaliser sent the game in Moscow to extra time on Tuesday night.
He has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2006, a UEFA Elite official since 2009 and took charge of this year’s Europa League final having officiated in the 2014 Champions League final and the 2013 Confederations Cup final. Kuipers officiated an England match at the last tournament in Brazil, the 2-1 defeat to Italy in their opening game in Manaus but could also be a good omen for England, having officiated the under-20s World Cup final in which they beat Venezuela last year.