At half-time on 30 June 1998, Kim Milton Nielsen stepped into the changing room at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Étienne. The air reeked of wet towels. He hugged his assistants.
They’d just taken charge of the best half of football they’d ever officiated. Michael Owen had terrorised Argentina with blistering runs and his breakout goal. A clever free-kick had outsmarted the English defence.
Nielsen had awarded two penalties. He couldn’t wait for the second half, but he didn’t know what was coming. At 37, Nielsen was refereeing his first major international tournament.
He’d been trusted with the showcase match. Tensions between Argentina and England had simmered since the 1982 Falklands war, and deepened through controversial World Cup clashes – Geoff Hurst’s goal in 1966; Diego Maradona’s handball 20 years later. A loss for either side would be colossal.
Diego Simeone clattered into David Beckham. Nielsen blew his whistle to book Simeone. Simeone leaned on Beckham and tugged his hair.
Beckham flicked his boot; Simeone fell. But it wasn’t going to be that easy. Sending off Beckham, a global superstar, at a World Cup with a full half still to play.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
