The Big Issue

Referee Kim Milton Nielsen returns to the Homeless World Cup

Top international referee Kim Milton Nielsen has thrown his support behind the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup and will be refereeing games in the life-changing international football tournament, which runs from December 1-7 at Federation Square and Birrarung Marr.

A veteran of some of the world’s most important soccer games, Milton Nielsen is best known as the man who gave England’s David Beckham a red card in the 1998 FIFA World Cup against Argentina.

56 national teams made up of homeless and marginalised people from around the world will be competing in the sixth Homeless World Cup under the World Cup scrutiny of the Danish referee, whose career includes 154 internationals, 53 UEFA Champions League games and FIFA World Cup matches.

After refereeing at last year’s Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen, including the final won by Scotland and attended by HRH Crown Prince of Denmark, Milton Nielsen experienced first-hand the power of soccer to change the lives of homeless and marginalised people.

“I saw all the positive things it gave to the players,” Milton Nielsen said. “The whole week was a great highlight – the happiness and the way the players enjoy the tournament was fantastic.

“The Homeless World Cup is an excellent initiative to inspire an excluded group. Football has the ability to gather people and to be used as a catalyst for changing lives.”

While accustomed to working in a high-pressure environment, his advice to players in the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup is to “enjoy every second”.

“I hope everybody has a great tournament and makes a lot of good friends,” Milton Nielsen said.

“It is not only on the pitch that you win. To participate also makes you a winner.”

Milton Nielsen will be part of a team of over 35 international and local referees officiating at the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup.

Other international referees include Gerhard Holzmann and Reinhart Raminger of Austria, Iain McGill from Scotland, Niall Waters-Fuller from England, Nkosinathi “Shoes” Manhono from South Africa and Ssekabira Ntege Abudu of Uganda.