Matilde Fieschi
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The son of a referee, Artur Soares Dias grew up following his father in stadiums, got used to the football environment early on and learned, from a young age, both the fascinating side and the difficulties of the profession. None of this deterred him — not even the warnings from his own father, who tried to dissuade him from following the same path.
Still in his teens, he signed up for the arbitration course and began a journey that took him up, stage by stage, through all levels. Today, he is considered one of the most respected referees in the country and one of the international references of his generation.
Throughout his career, he officiated countless major games in Portugal, including classics and derbies, and had memorable moments on an international level. Among them, the presence at Euro 2024, the Conference League final of that same year between Olympiacos and Fiorentina, and the first leg of the semi-finals of the 2022/23 Champions League, which pitted Real Madrid against Manchester City, stand out.
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With accumulated experience in Portuguese competitions and on major European stages, Soares Dias is categorical when comparing realities: “It’s not difficult to referee Champions Leagues. Players want to play.” He even recalls a Champions League match in which he reported “eight or nine fouls”, describing it as a game in which “they almost didn’t notice” his presence.
The difference, he says, is in the attitude: “It’s difficult to whistle in Portugal. The players make the referee’s job more difficult.”
Regarding the intensity of the Portuguese game, Soares Dias reinforces that the problem does not just lie in the refereeing: “It’s a cycle. Players make more fouls and referees whistle more.”
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