Identity and primary context
Jonas Eriksson is a Swedish professional best known as a former top-level football referee. Born 28 February 1974 in Stockholm County, Sweden, he officiated in the Swedish Allsvenskan, in UEFA and FIFA competitions, and was listed by FIFA as a referee between 2002 and 2018. Eriksson refereed high-profile domestic matches and European fixtures, including Champions League and Europa League knockout stages. This profile clarifies his role, career timeline, and publicly available verified records while distinguishing on-field decisions from personal identity and privacy.
Career overview and role definition
As a referee, Eriksson’s primary function was to enforce the Laws of the Game, manage match timelines, and make real-time decisions under intense scrutiny. His work spanned club competitions and select international friendlies, with notable assignments in Swedish league football and UEFA tournaments. Understanding the referee’s jurisdiction helps contextualize what is documented about Jonas Eriksson in public sources and what remains private, such as personal routines and post-career activities.
Path to FIFA status
Eriksson progressed through the Swedish refereeing pyramid, demonstrating consistent competence at lower and mid-tier levels before receiving elite recognition. FIFA listing is reserved for referees who meet stringent criteria, including fitness, assessment, and consistent application of the laws across multiple seasons. Being listed means he was authorized to officiate in the most prestigious club and international fixtures, subject to annual revalidation until retirement from active refereeing.
Competitive domains and scope
His competitive scope included the Swedish top flight, continental club football under UEFA, and selected FIFA appointments. European competition appearances require additional fitness benchmarks and successful evaluations by UEFA’s referee team. His documented assignments are limited to matches within FIFA and UEFA calendars, with no verified record of officiating in major tournament finals such as the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship finals.
Notable matches and documented assignments
Specific matches are recorded by governing bodies and databases rather than informal sources. These records are periodically updated and archived by UEFA and FIFA to preserve transparency in competitive integrity. Below is a concise overview of attested competition participation, based on publicly available registries.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA listing period | 2002–2018 | FIFA.com referee index |
| Primary domestic league | Swedish Allsvenskan | Swedish Football Association |
| UEFA club competitions | Champions League and Europa League assignments | UEFA match database |
| FIFA World Cup finals | Not documented | FIFA tournament records |
| UEFA European Championship finals | Not documented | UEFA tournament records |
Public record versus private life
Public records capture professional actions on the pitch, not personal beliefs, affiliations, or off-duty conduct. Media reports that extrapolate character from match officiating risk misrepresenting context and due process. In the absence of independently verified documents, claims about personal life should be treated as unverified. This article limits itself to roles, dates, and events corroborated by governing-body data and reputable secondary sources.
Reputation and common questions
In public discussion, Eriksson is most often referenced in relation to high-pressure UEFA knockout matches and debates over refereeing standards. Reputation in football refereeing is shaped by consistency, error rate, and acceptance by players and coaches. Objective indicators such as appointment frequency, cards issued, and post-match assessments by match delegates are available in official reports, whereas subjective commentary is not a reliable proxy for professional quality.
Objective indicators of professional standing
- Appointments in elite club competition: Indicator of recognized competence
- Fitness and assessment results: Measured by governing bodies
- Post-match evaluation outcomes: Documented by UEFA match observers
- Compliance with protocol: Adherence to instructions and standards
These indicators are distinct from popularity, media tone, or individual fan preference. They reflect the institutional view of performance rather than narrative or isolated incidents.
Retirement and current status
Per public registries, Jonas Eriksson’s FIFA refereeing status is listed as retired as of the end of the 2018 calendar year. Retirement from elite officiating is common after reaching career milestones or due to accumulated physical demands. Since retiring, there is no verified evidence of professional refereeing activity. Post-career, individuals may transition into analysis, instruction, or private endeavors, but such roles are not captured in official match reports or FIFA/UEFA registers.
Data provenance and verification approach
Information in this overview is drawn from primary digital registries maintained by FIFA and UEFA, which archive referee appointments and status changes. Where these sources are silent or ambiguous, secondary reporting from established sports media is used sparingly and with attribution. Dates, name spellings, and career milestones are cross-checked against official documents to minimize misattribution. This methodology supports durable accuracy rather than rapid, unverified updates.
Summary takeaways
Jonas Eriksson is a retired Swedish football referee who operated at domestic and UEFA/FIFA levels, with a documented career from 2002 to 2018. His on-field roles and assignments are recorded in official databases; his personal and post-career life lies outside the scope of verified public records. This profile is built for long-term usefulness, emphasizing transparent sourcing, clear definitions of role and status, and avoidance of speculative detail.