The secret millionaire: Referee in spotlight over failing to send off Robert Lewandowski is former media magnate who only officiates football games for fun

  • Swedish official Jonas Eriksson became a multi-millionaire after selling stake in sports media rights agency
  • Ex-journalist made about £6m from his 15% stake in IEC in Sports
  • Lewandowski elbowed Arsenal player Laurent Koscielny during Borussia Dortmund's win against the club last night

By Nick Enoch

Published: 13:22 EST, 23 October 2013 | Updated: 13:40 EST, 24 October 2013


Some football referees can earn up to £70,000 a year - but Swedish official Jonas Eriksson may be earning more than that in annual interest alone.

That's because the canny 39-year-old became a multi-millionaire after selling his 15 per cent stake in a Swedish sports media rights business over six years ago for about £6million.

Eriksson, who has been a referee since 1994, is understood to be one of three partners who sold their share in the company, IEC in Sports.

The former journalist hit the headlines for failing to send off striker Robert Lewandowski after he elbowed Arsenal player Laurent Koscielny during Borussia Dortmund's win against the club last night.

Canny Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson became a multi-millionaire after selling his 15 per cent stake in a sports media rights business over six years ago for about £6m

Erkisson, who lives in the picturesque town of Sigtuna (above, file picture), just north of Stockholm, said: 'I've had a fantastic life as a businessman... but since 2011, I've dedicated myself to being a professional referee and I'm having the time of my life'

Based primarily in Stockholm, IEC has offices around Europe, as well as in the Middle East, Asia and Oceania, distributing television rights worldwide to TV stations and media companies.

Its current programme list consists of 250 events with a total annual volume of more than 3,500 hours.

The company’s archive boasts more than 5,000 events, dating back to 1993.

But despite Eriksson's wealth, nothing will change his first love as he continues to officiate in his home country and across Europe.

Erkisson, who lives in the picturesque town of Sigtuna, just north of Stockholm, told UEFA in August: 'I've had a fantastic life as a businessman... but since 2011, I've dedicated myself to being a professional referee and I'm having the time of my life.'  

Jonas Eriksson shows Robert Lewandowski of Borussia Dortmund a yellow card for a foul on Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League match yesterday

'All the money hasn't changed anything, the best thing I do in my life is still refereeing football,' said Eriksson. Above, Robert Lewandowski was fortunate to stay on the pitch after he was only cautioned for an elbow during the game at the Emirates Stadium yesterday, which saw Dortmund win 2-1

And speaking last year, he said: 'All the money hasn't changed anything, the best thing I do in my life is still refereeing football.'

The Lewandowski incident is not the first time Eriksson has courted controversy.

He bore the brunt of Rangers' wrath in 2009 after waving away penalty claims in a Champions League clash with Sevilla, with Scotland manager Gordon Strachan saying after the game that the Swede 'shouldn't get another game in the Champions League... he is not good enough.'

And he sparked more trouble in the 2011-12 season when he dismissed two penalty claims from Barcelona in their goalless draw with AC Milan at San Siro in the Champions League quarter-final.

Ryan Babel of Liverpool is shown a red card and sent off by Eriksson during a game against Benefica in Portugal in 2010