An Interview with Kim Milton Nielsen
This week’s interview is with former FIFA referee Kim Milton Nielsen. Kim refereed 154 international and 53 Champions League matches including the 2004 Champions League Final between FC Porto and AS Monaco.
The Danish referee is probably most-remembered by English football fans for sending David Beckham off in the 1998 World Cup Second Round against Argentina. Kim retired from refereeing in 2006.
Why did you want to become a referee and when did you start refereeing?
I was a football trainer for boys between 8-10 years old and also played football myself for the same club. I was 15 years old and the club that I played for announced that there was a referee course for club members. I decided to attend the course. In the first phase of the course, you have to learn the rules of the game. Football is one of the few things that you can play without knowing the rules! When I passed the test I was asked if I wanted to become an active referee. I answered yes and started refereeing at the age of 15.
What happened in 1994 World Cup qualifiers with Czechoslovakia and Romania? I read that there were allegations of a bribe?
I remember that some weeks after the match I was asked about if I had noticed any unusual action or contact from the Romanian staff. I could only say no as I couldn’t . We only contact during the official meeting that happens at every match.
What do you remember of refereeing in the Euro 96 Championships in England? You refereed one group stage game but did you stay in England and watch any more matches?
No, I only refereed one match (Germany vs Russia). At that time the referees and assistant referees were appointed for only one match. We travelled to the match two days before matchday and returned home the day after. I watched the other matches on the television and not live.
You were in charge of the 1997 Tournoi game between Brazil and France when Roberto Carlos scored that amazing free kick. What do you remember of the goal?
I saw Roberto Carlos take the free kick and thought that it was stupid to shoot direct at goal from that distance. The next thing I saw was the ball in the goal and I thought to myself “how did it get there?” From my position on the pitch, it was difficult to see how good the shot was. It was only later when I saw the goal on television that I saw how fantastic the goal was.
You famously sent off David Beckham in the 1998 World Cup. What did the England players say to you when you had given Beckham the red card? Were you aware of the repercussions that David Beckham faced when he got back to England after we were knocked out?
The England players did not say anything special at the time or even after the match. I wasn’t aware of the the situation at the time. I treated the match as a “normal” match in the days before. I only realised the magnitude of the sending off when I saw the newspapers the next day. Of course I also heard what happened to David Beckham when the England team got back to England and I felt sorry for him and the way he was treated.
Has there ever been a time in your refereeing career where you have been scared for your safety?
No, I was never concerned about my safety during my career as a referee. I think that it might be because I’m tall (196 cm) and that has helped me in many situations!
You refereed the 2004 Champions League Final. What are your memories of the day and the game?
I have no special memories from the final. It was important for me to act as I would in any other match. We went through the same routine before the match as we would any other.
What was your usual routine when refereeing a game?
I always had the same schedule on matchdays. If a game kicked off at kicked off 20.45, I would wake at 08:00 and have breakfast and then drive to the stadium for 10:00. At the stadium we would have the inspection and pre match meeting at 10:00. After the meeting I would go sightseeing in the town and have some lunch. The very latest that I would then go back to the hotel would be 15:00. I would then rest from 15.00 – 18.00 and I normally slept at that time. At 18:00 I would have a bath and then get packed and prepare for the match. The match officials would have to be at the stadium 90 minutes before kick-off so we would have to make sure that we departed from the hotel in good time!
What advice would you give someone who wants to become a referee?
It easy for me because I reached the top level but I would say that they must enjoy referring and continue for a long time. There are more good experience to be had as a referee than bad ones!
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