Ref Gets Death Threats

Updated:10:56, Thursday July 01, 2004

The Swiss referee at the centre of England's disallowed goal controversy has been offered police protection after death threats were made by furious fans. 

Urs Meier has been bombarded with hate messages on his telephone and website following his decision to disallow a Sol Campbell headed goal in the 90th minute of England's Euro 2004 match against Portugal.

Tabloids have given Urs Meier the red card

The 45-year-old referee blamed sections of the media for stoking fans' fury in a "dangerous" way. 

"I feel very sad about this reaction of the tabloid press, especially after a right decision," he told the BBC's PM radio programme. 

"A reaction like this after a football game is never the right way." 

Mr Meier, who was rated the third best referee in the world before the start of Euro 2004, has been demonised in the British tabloids. 

The red tops branded him a "reffin' half-wit" for ruling that John Terry and Campbell had fouled Portugal's goalkeeper Ricardo. The goal would have taken England through to the semi-finals. 

Instead, the game went into extra time and then penalties, which England lost. 

Mr Meier refused to accept that the tabloids' criticism was a harmless joke. 

"To me it's not a joke," he added, speaking from Switzerland. 

"A lot of English supporters and fans they are heated over and it's really dangerous." 

Mr Meier received backing for his decision from other referees, but was not invited to referee subsequent games in the football championships being held in Portugal.