Speaking at the dinner for the 45th anniversary of the Portuguese Football Referees Association (APAF), in Montemor-o-Velho, in the district of Coimbra, at which he was honoured, the referee from the Porto Football Association commented on the recent appointments for the final of the Europa Conference League and for Euro 2024. "Having had the opportunity to represent Portugal in Tokyo 2020, or in the last European Championship, I thought that these would have been the most relevant moments of my career", said the honoree, stressing that "work and a lot of dedication meant that the story did not end there". Artur Soares Dias also highlighted the fact that, more than a decade later, he succeeded Pedro Proença as representative of Portuguese refereeing in a decision of a European competition, after the current president of the Portuguese Professional Football League directed the final of the 2011/12 Champions League, between Bayern Munich and Chelsea. "With the recent appointment for the final of the Europa Conference League, and after 12 years since the last final exemplarily led by Pedro Proença, I am part of a very restricted group of Portuguese referees who have had the fortune to referee European finals and repeat Portugal's presence in a European Championship", he stressed. Stressing that his appointment for the two competitions is a victory for an entire team, the referee from the Porto Football Association considered himself a happy man and showed himself to be "sure that the story does not end here", foreseeing a bright future and strong appreciation for Portuguese football. At 44 years of age, Artur Soares Dias has been refereeing for 28 seasons and is two games away from completing 300 in the I League. The Portuguese is part of the group of referees appointed for Euro 2024, which will take place between 14 June and 14 July, in Germany, and will direct the final of the Europa Conference League, between the Greeks of Olympiacos and the Italians of Fiorentina, on 29 May, in Athens. Read Also: Ukra emotional about the end of his career: "I didn't expect this..." (Portuguese version)