Top American referee Mark Geiger retires from officiating | OneFootball

After 21 years as an official, Mark Geiger has finally hung up his boots.

The Professional Referee Organization (PRO) announced on Wednesday that Geiger has been named as director of senior match officials.

Geiger will fill a brand new role where he’ll oversee the work of Major League Soccer officials, effective immediately.

Geiger worked two World Cups, three CONCACAF Gold Cups, and the 2016 Olympic Games and became the first American referee to officiate a World Cup knockout stage match.

“Having worked games in MLS for 15 years and internationally for 11, I felt it was time for me both personally and professionally to hang up my whistle and boots and start this new chapter,” said Geiger in a statement.

“I am extremely excited to join a team that is so dedicated and committed to improving the standards of refereeing in North America.

“I hope that my experiences will help our referees excel and take their individual games to the next level.”

After making his MLS debut in 2004, Geiger officiated 186 regular-season games as well as the 2014 MLS Cup Final.

In 2014, Geiger was the fourth official in Germany’s famous 7-1 rout of Brazil in the World Cup semi-finals.

He won the 2014 CONCACAF Referee of the Year award and won the MLS Referee of the Year award on two occasions.

Geiger’s final assignment came in Abu Dhabi, where he was the Assistant VAR at the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup final.

“I’m delighted to have somebody of Mark’s caliber joining the PRO management team after he decided to call time on a truly wonderful active career.

“Mark is a man of huge integrity and has enormous pride in the work he does.

“These are qualities which make him ideal for a senior role in PRO,” said PRO GM Howard Webb.

“He has been a trailblazer for American officiating on the international stage and his achievements have helped to raise the credibility of our program globally.

“The experience and knowledge he has acquired in reaching such a high level will be extremely valuable as we look to continually raise the standard of our officials.”