Years League Name Antonio Lopez 1990-2003 La Liga Role Football Referee | Years League Other occupation Architect 1993-2003 FIFA-listed | |
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Full name Antonio Jesus Lopez Nieto Born January 25, 1958 (age 66)
Malaga, Spain ( 1958-01-25 ) | ||
Antonio jes s l pez nieto 01
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 Nieto 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, a sanction that was later overturned.
He has refereed in three UEFA Cup finals, in 1995 (first leg), 1998, 2000. Nieto set a record at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, issuing 14 yellow cards and 2 red cards in a match between Germany and Cameroon. The record was equalled in the 2006 tournament by Valentin Ivanov during the match between Portugal and Netherlands.