Kim Milton Nielsen’s 1998 memories: ‘Hey, you are the man who sent off Beckham’

In an extract from a new book, the Danish former referee recalls sending off the England midfielder for his infamous kick on Diego Simeone 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. Argentina v England. World Cup round of 16. Michael Owen had terrorised Argentina