:Mark Geiger
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2015}}
{{short description|American soccer referee}}
{{Infobox football official
| name = Mark Geiger
| image = Mark Geiger.jpg
| caption = Geiger in 2018
| fullname = Mark William Geiger
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1974|8|25}}
| birth_place = Beachwood, New Jersey, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| otheroccupation = {{ubl|Senior director of match officials, Professional Referee Organization|Mathematics teacher}}
| years1 = 2002–2004
| league1 = A-League
| role1 = Referee
| years2 = 2011–2017
| league2 = NASL
| role2 = Referee
| years3 = 2004–2019
| league3 = MLS
| role3 = Referee
| internationalyears1 = 2008–2019
| confederation1 = FIFA listed
| internationalrole1 = Referee
}}
Mark William Geiger (born August 25, 1974) is an American sports administrator and former soccer referee. He is the senior director of match officials at the Professional Referee Organization (PRO), which oversees domestic referees in Major League Soccer (MLS). Geiger previously officiated in MLS and was on the FIFA International Referees List from 2008 to 2019. At the international level, Geiger refereed the 2012 Olympics, the 2013, 2015, and 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cups, and the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups. At the 2014 World Cup, he became the first referee from the United States to officiate a knockout match at a World Cup tournament. Before becoming a full-time referee, Geiger was a high school mathematics teacher.
Refereeing career
Geiger first took up refereeing in 1988. In 2003, he was named Referee of the Year by the New Jersey Soccer Association.{{cite web |title=Referee of the Year |url=https://www.soccernjsa.com/referee-of-the-year/ |website=soccernjsa.com |publisher=New Jersey Soccer Association |access-date=30 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925073509/https://www.soccernjsa.com/referee-of-the-year/ |archive-date=25 September 2023 |url-status=live}} He became a United States Soccer Federation National Referee in 2003 and officiated in Major League Soccer from 2004 to 2018. He has officiated in CONCACAF tournaments since becoming a FIFA referee in 2008, and has officiated Gold Cup and other international tournaments and fixtures. Geiger was selected for the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in 2011, where he refereed the final.{{cite web|url=http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0,,12813~2425158,00.html |title=Geiger to referee U-20 final, CCL Round 2 |publisher=CONCACAF |date=August 19, 2011 |access-date=October 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925222919/http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C12813~2425158%2C00.html |archive-date=September 25, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
Geiger officiated at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.{{cite web | url=http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/13/03/mark-geiger-and-mark-hurd-invited-to-referee-at-2011-fifa-u20-world-cup | title=U.S. Soccer Referee Mark Geiger and Assistant Referee Mark Hurd to Participate at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia | publisher=U.S. Soccer | date=May 16, 2011 | access-date=October 7, 2015}} He officiated the Group E game between eventual tournament champions Brazil and Austria at Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla.{{cite web | url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255641/match=300145877/report.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430113506/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255641/match=300145877/report.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 30, 2012 | title=Match Report - Brazil 3-0 Austria | publisher=FIFA | access-date=October 10, 2015}} He then took charge of the Group B game between Uruguay and Cameroon at Estadio El Campín in Bogotá.{{cite web | url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255641/match=300145861/report.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914133159/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255641/match=300145861/report.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=September 14, 2011| title=Match Report - Uruguay 0-1 Cameroon | publisher=FIFA | access-date=October 10, 2015}} He was appointed to the Round of 16 match between Spain and South Korea at Estadio Palogrande in Manizales.{{cite web | url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255639/match=300145889/report.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410044615/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255639/match=300145889/report.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=April 10, 2012| title=Match Report - Spain 0-0 Korea Republic| publisher=FIFA | access-date=October 10, 2015}} Finally, he refereed the Final with American Assistant Referee Sean Hurd and Canadian Assistant Referee Joe Fletcher, between Brazil and Portugal at Estadio El Campín in Bogotá.{{cite web | url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255635/match=300145903/report.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309034130/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=255635/match=300145903/report.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=March 9, 2012| title=Match Report - Brazil 3-2 Portugal| publisher=FIFA | access-date=October 10, 2015}} This was the first time a referee from the United States has ever officiated a major men's tournament final.{{cite web | url=http://www.refereeassociation.net/articles.php?ID=83 | title=Geiger, Hurd and Fletcher to Officiate FIFA U20 World Cup Final | publisher=Professional Soccer Referees Association | access-date=October 10, 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723080617/http://www.refereeassociation.net/articles.php?ID=83 | archive-date=July 23, 2015 | df=mdy-all }}
File:Referee Mark Geiger advantage.jpg during a 2012 MLS match]]
Geiger was selected as the Major League Soccer referee of the year for the 2011 season, and then again in 2014.{{cite web | url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2011/11/10/mls-veteran-geiger-named-referee-year | title=MLS veteran Geiger named Referee of the Year | publisher=Major League Soccer | date=November 10, 2011 | access-date=October 7, 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/11/25/mark-geiger-named-mls-referee-year-paul-scott-voted-assistant-referee-year | title=Mark Geiger named MLS Referee of the Year; Paul Scott voted Assistant Referee of the Year | publisher=Major League Soccer | date=November 25, 2014 | access-date=October 7, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221163408/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/11/25/mark-geiger-named-mls-referee-year-paul-scott-voted-assistant-referee-year | archive-date=February 21, 2015}}
In 2012, Geiger was selected as one of 16 referees to officiate at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Geiger took charge of the Group D match between Spain vs. Japan{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/matches/round=256009/match=300197675/index.html |title=Matchcast - Spain 0:1 Japan |publisher=FIFA |access-date=October 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524035202/http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/matches/round%3D256009/match%3D300197675/index.html |archive-date=May 24, 2013 |url-status=dead }} and the quarterfinal between Japan vs. Egypt. In 2013, Geiger was an official at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.{{cite web|title=PRO Referee Roster|url=http://www.proreferees.com/roster-referees.php|publisher=Professional Referee Organization|access-date=October 6, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603223128/http://www.proreferees.com/roster-referees.php|archive-date=June 3, 2013}}
Geiger was selected as CONCACAF's representative referee for the 2013 Club World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/22/25/89/fcwc2013matchofficials_neutral.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112130017/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/22/25/89/fcwc2013matchofficials_neutral.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 12, 2013|title=FCWC 2013 Appointments of Match Officials|publisher=FIFA}}
=2014 FIFA World Cup=
Geiger was one of 25 referees appointed for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/media/newsid=2261111/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115154322/http://www.fifa.com//worldcup/media/newsid=2261111/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 15, 2014|title=Referee trios and support duos appointed for 2014 FIFA World Cup|publisher=FIFA|date=January 15, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/26/13/55/2014fwcrefereesselected_neutral.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116084943/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/26/13/55/2014fwcrefereesselected_neutral.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 16, 2014|title=Referees & Assistant referees for the 2014 FIFA World Cup|publisher=FIFA|date=January 14, 2014}} Geiger described the assignment to the World Cup as "an immensely proud moment".{{cite web|url=http://www.proreferees.com/news--mark-geiger-excited-to-fulfil-world-cup-dream.php|title=Mark Geiger excited to fulfil World Cup dream|publisher=Professional Referee Organization|date=January 20, 2014|access-date=June 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723085609/http://www.proreferees.com/news--mark-geiger-excited-to-fulfil-world-cup-dream.php|archive-date=July 23, 2015|url-status=dead}}
Geiger officiated the 2014 World Cup Group C match between Colombia and Greece at the Estadio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte;{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=referee-designations-for-matches-5-8-2368666.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614052854/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=referee-designations-for-matches-5-8-2368666.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 14, 2014 |publisher=FIFA|date=June 12, 2014|title=Referee designations for matches 5-8|access-date=October 7, 2015}}
the 2014 World Cup Group B match between Chile and Spain at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro;{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186498/index.html#nosticky |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607234913/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186498/index.html#nosticky |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 7, 2014 |title=2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil Match Result: Spain v Chile|publisher=FIFA}}
and the 2014 World Cup Round of 16 match between France and Nigeria at the Estádio Nacional in Brasilia, the first American to referee in the knockout round of a FIFA World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.proreferees.com/news-pro-2014-world-cup-assignments.php|title=PRO 2014 World Cup assignments|publisher=Professional Referee Organization|date=June 28, 2014|access-date=June 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714235856/http://www.proreferees.com/news-pro-2014-world-cup-assignments.php|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}
=2017 FIFA Confederations Cup=
Geiger was selected to officiate the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. In the Group Stage, Geiger officiated the Group B match between Australia and Germany in Sochi as well as the Group A match between New Zealand and Portugal in Saint Petersburg.{{cite web|title=Australia-Germany Match Overview|url=https://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/matches/round=274633/match=300334890/index.html#nosticky|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220092339/http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/matches/round=274633/match=300334890/index.html#nosticky|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 20, 2017|publisher=FIFA|date=June 19, 2017}}{{cite web|title=New Zealand-Portugal Match Overview|url=https://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/matches/round=274633/match=300334887/index.html#nosticky|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220094258/http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/matches/round=274633/match=300334887/index.html#nosticky|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 20, 2017|publisher=FIFA|date=June 24, 2017}}
=2018 FIFA World Cup=
Geiger was one of 36 referees selected for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, working with a North American crew of Joe Fletcher from Canada and Frank Anderson from the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/36-referees-and-63-assistant-referees-appointed-as-russia-2018-match-officials|title=36 referees and 63 assistant referees appointed as Russia 2018 Match Officials|website=FIFA.com|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association|date=March 29, 2018|access-date=April 12, 2020}} Geiger served as referee on three matches at the tournament and was VAR in five matches.
Geiger's first assignment was the second group stage match of Group B between Portugal and Morocco. Geiger worked as the VAR In the match between Denmark and Australia. During the match he advised the referee, Antonio Mateu Lahoz, to review a possible handball in the penalty area. After review, Lahoz awarded a penalty kick that allowed the Socceroos to score and secure a 1–1 draw.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=498181|title=Australia salvage draw against Denmark with VAR-awarded penalty|website=espn.com|publisher=ESPN|date=June 21, 2018|access-date=April 12, 2020}} He subsequently worked as VAR for the Group D match between Argentina and Iceland, the Group G match featuring Belgium and Tunisia and the Round of 16 contest between Uruguay and Portugal before his final assignment in the tournament's Third Place match.
Geiger then officiated the Group F third match between South Korea and Germany.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/soccer/news/world-cup-2018-south-korea-germany-marco-reus-timo-werner-laud-son-heung-min/x01b4wpdza3n1r8b8hpr2inyg|title=World Cup 2018: South Korea vs. Germany preview, players to watch, key stats|website=sportingnews.com|publisher=Sporting News|date=June 25, 2018|access-date=April 12, 2020}} South Korea defeated Germany 2–0, but neither team advanced since Sweden defeated Mexico.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/match/300331532/#match-summary|title=2018 FIFA World Cup Russia - Matches - Korea Republic-Germany|website=FIFA.com|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association|date=June 27, 2018|access-date=April 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705180403/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/match/300331532/|archive-date=July 5, 2018}} He then officiated at the Round of 16 game between Colombia and England. England advanced on penalties after a 1–1 draw. Geiger was selected as one of the final 12 referees on the shortlist to officiate the final or third place play-off match,{{Cite web |title=PRO referee Mark Geiger among those selected for final phase of World Cup |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/07/10/pro-referee-mark-geiger-among-those-selected-final-phase-world-cup |work=MLS Soccer |date=July 10, 2018 |access-date=July 11, 2018}} and was ultimately selected to be VAR on the 3rd place match between Belgium and England.{{cite tweet|number=1017489193906425865|user=fifamedia|title=VAR designations for 2018 FIFA World...|date=July 12, 2018}}
Controversies
Geiger has been criticized for making controversial calls, such as the 2015 Gold Cup semi final between Panama and Mexico, when he called a controversial penalty for Mexico with Panama up 1–0 in the 90th minute.{{Cite web|date=2019-01-09|title=The controversies that marked Mark Geiger's referee career|url=https://us.as.com/us/2019/01/09/futbol/1547074517_831361.html|access-date=2020-09-18|website=AS USA|language=es-us}}{{Cite web|last=Gaines|first=Cork|date=23 July 2015|title=Panama got screwed by a bogus 89th-minute penalty against Mexico and then went ballistic|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/gold-cup-panama-mexico-penalty-2015-7|access-date=2020-09-18|website=Business Insider}} He admitted to making mistakes in that match as well.{{Cite web|last=Wells|first=Adam|date=July 25, 2015|title=Referee Admits Game-Altering Errors in Mexico vs. Panama 2015 Gold Cup Semifinal|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2531090-referee-admits-game-altering-errors-in-mexico-vs-panama-2015-gold-cup-semifinal|access-date=2020-09-18|website=Bleacher Report|language=en}} Panamanian Football Federation president Pedro Chaluja said the match was "fixed", and he also wanted FIFA and CONCACAF to investigate.{{Cite web|date=2015-07-24|title=Mexico game was fixed - Panama FA chief|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/panama/story/2535280/panama-mexico-game-was-fixed-says-panama-fa-chief|access-date=2020-09-18|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}
Retirement
On January 9, 2019, Geiger announced that he would retire from refereeing and take up a position within PRO as its director of senior match officials.{{cite news |date=January 9, 2019 |title=Top American soccer referee Mark Geiger is retiring |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2019/01/09/top-american-soccer-referee-mark-geiger-is-retiring/38869363/ |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |access-date=March 10, 2019}}
FIFA World Cup record
File:FWC 2018 - Round of 16 - COL v ENG - Photo 088.jpg from England and David Ospina from Colombia before the penalty shootout in the Round of 16]]
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center; font-size:85%;"
! colspan="4" | 2014 FIFA World Cup – Brazil | |||
| Date | Match | Venue | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 14, 2014 | {{fb|COL}} 3–0 {{fb|GRE}} | Belo Horizonte | Group stage |
| June 18, 2014 | {{fb|ESP}} 0–2 {{fb|CHI}} | Rio de Janeiro | Group stage |
| June 30, 2014 | {{fb|FRA|1974}} 2–0 {{fb|NGA}} | Brasília | Round of 16 |
| colspan="4" | 2018 FIFA World Cup – Russia | |||
| Date | Match | Venue | Round |
| June 20, 2018 | {{fb|POR}} 1–0 {{fb|MAR}} | Moscow | Group stage |
| June 27, 2018 | {{fb|KOR}} 2–0 {{fb|GER}} | Kazan | Group stage |
| July 3, 2018 | {{fb|COL}} 1–1 {{fb|ENG}} | Moscow | Round of 16 |
Personal life
Geiger was born on August 25, 1974, and grew up in Beachwood, New Jersey. After studying teaching at Trenton State College, he became a mathematics teacher at Lacey Township High School in Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey, a role that he gave up to become a full-time referee. While at Lacey Township High School, Geiger was among 103 recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching in 2010.{{cite web | url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/04/76/97/open_list_prospective_referees__assistants_2014fwcrefereesproject2012_march2013.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418025519/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/04/76/97/open_list_prospective_referees__assistants_2014fwcrefereesproject2012_march2013.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 18, 2013 | title=Open list of prospective referees & assistant referees for the 2014 FIFA World Cup | publisher=FIFA | access-date=October 6, 2015}}{{cite press release | url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/presidential-math-and-science-teachers-award-release | title=Presidential Math and Science Teachers Award Release | date=June 7, 2010 | access-date=October 6, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216172118/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/presidential-math-and-science-teachers-award-release | via=National Archives | work=whitehouse.gov | archive-date=February 16, 2017}}{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/retired-math-teacher-mark-geiger-is-the-only-american-selected-to-referee-the-world-cup/2014/06/10/3a544ad6-efda-11e3-bf76-447a5df6411f_story.html | title=Retired math teacher Mark Geiger is the only American selected to referee the World Cup | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=June 10, 2014 | access-date=October 6, 2015 | author=Day, Timothy D.}}
Honors
- New Jersey Soccer Association Referee of the Year: 2003
- Morgan J. Hellebuyck North American Officials Award 2006
- MLS Referee of the Year: 2011, 2014
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707114743/http://www.proreferees.com/roster-mark-geiger.php |date=July 7, 2014 |title=Profile at Professional Referee Organization}}
- {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624121341/http://worldreferee.com/site/copy.php?linkID=1646&linkType=referee&contextType=bio |date=June 24, 2018 |title=Profile at WorldReferee.com}}
- {{Soccerway referee|mark-geiger/82588}}
- {{WorldFootball.net referee}}
- {{WorldReferee.com}}
{{CONCACAF Awards}}
{{2014 FIFA World Cup referees}}
{{Major League Soccer referees}}
{{2017 FIFA Confederations Cup referees}}
{{2018 FIFA World Cup referees}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Geiger, Mark}}
Category:Schoolteachers from New Jersey
Category:American soccer referees
Category:Major League Soccer referees
Category:American mathematics educators
Category:North American Soccer League (2011–2017) referees
Category:People from Beachwood, New Jersey
Category:Olympic football referees
Category:Football referees at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Category:CONCACAF Champions Cup referees
Category:CONCACAF Gold Cup referees
Category:2014 FIFA World Cup referees
Category:2018 FIFA World Cup referees
Category:Sportspeople from New Jersey