By DAN KARELL
The United States won’t just be represented at the World Cup by the players on the field.
FIFA released their list of referees for the 2014 World Cup on Wednesday morning and they included American referee Mark Geiger on their 25-man list. The former MLS Referee of the Year became a FIFA listed referee in 2008 and officiated the 2011 FIFA Under-20 World Cup final as well as a number of games at the 2012 Summer Olympic games.
Geiger will be assisted by American Mark Hurd and Canadian Joe Fletcher. FIFA also appointed “support duos” in case of injury, with American Eric Boria included as a World Cup reserve as well.
Also headed to the World Cup from CONCACAF is Marco Antonio Rodriguez of Mexico, and Joel Aguilar of El Salvador. Missing out from the tournament is Koman Coulibaly, who controversially disallowed a goal by U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Maurice Edu during the USA’s 2-2 draw with Slovenia at the 2010 World Cup.
Here’s a full look at the 25 head referees selected for the 2014 World Cup:
2014 World Cup referees:
AFC: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan), Yuichi Nishimura (Japan), Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain), Ben Williams (Australia)
CAF: Noumandiez Doue (Ivory Coast), Bakary Gassama (Gambia), Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria)
CONCACAF: Joel Aguilar (El Salvador), Mark Geiger (United States), Marco Rodriguez Moreno (Mexico)
CONMEBOL: Enrique Osses (Chile), Nestor Pitana (Argentina), Wilmar Roldan (Colombia), Sandro Ricci (Brazil), Carlos Vera Rodriguez (Ecuador)
Oceania: Peter O’Leary (New Zealand)
UEFA: Felix Brych (Germany), Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey), Jonas Eriksson (Sweden), Bjorn Kuipers (Netherlands), Milorad Mazic (Serbia), Pedro Proenca (Portugal), Nicola Rizzoli (Italy), Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain), Howard Webb (England)
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What do you think of this news? Happy to see an American official selected for the World Cup? Glad that Coulibaly won’t be officiating this time around?
Share your thoughts below.