Antonio López Nieto

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is López and the second or maternal family name is Nieto.
Antonio López Nieto
Full name Antonio Jesús López Nieto
Born (1958-01-25) 25 January 1958 (age 66)
Málaga, Spain
Other occupation Architect
Domestic
Years League Role
1988-2003 La Liga Referee
International
Years League Role
1993-2003 FIFA-listed Referee

Antonio Jesús López Nieto (born 25 January 1958 in Málaga, Andalusia) is a former Spanish football referee, who officiated at one FIFA World Cup and during the UEFA Champions League.

In 1995, López accused representatives of Dynamo Kyiv of attempting to bribe him before a UEFA Champions League game against Panathinaikos of Greece, a charge Dynamo Kyiv continue to deny. As a result of this accusation, UEFA banned Dynamo from competitions for two years,[1] a sanction that was later overturned.

He has refereed in three UEFA Cup finals, in 1995 (first leg), 1998 and 2000. López set a record at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, issuing 14 yellow cards and 2 red cards in a match between Germany and Cameroon.[2] This record was then broken in the 2006 tournament by Valentin Ivanov during the match between Portugal and Netherlands, who issued 16 yellow cards and 4 red cards.

References

  1. ^ "Dynamo Kiev Banned from European Play". The New York Times. AP. 21 September 1995. Retrieved 19 June 2006.
  2. ^ "Germany overcome Cameroon". BBC. 11 June 2002. Retrieved 19 June 2006.
Preceded by UEFA Cup Final Referees
Final 1998
Spain Antonio López Nieto 		Succeeded by
Preceded by UEFA Cup Final Referees
Final 2000
Spain Antonio López Nieto 		Succeeded by


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