19 Facts About Mark Geiger

1. Mark Geiger is one of 9 people employed full-time as a referee for the Major League Soccer in the United States.

2. Mark Geiger is one of the few professional full-time referees from the United States, but his reputation for controversial calls could come back to haunt him in Brazil.

3. Mark Geiger told MLS Soccer in 2018 that his refereeing career began when he was 13 years old.

4. In 2015, Mark Geiger was in charge of the 2015 Gold Cup semi final match between Panama and Mexico.

5. Mark Geiger is a graduate of the College of New Jersey with a degree in Mathematics and a minor in Spanish.

6. Mark Geiger is representing the United States of America at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

7. Mark Geiger took charge of the Group D match between Spain vs Japan and the quarterfinal between Japan vs Egypt.

8. Mark Geiger was selected as the Major League Soccer referee of the year for the 2011 season, and then again in 2014.

9. Mark Geiger was appointed to the Round of 16 match between Spain and South Korea at Estadio Palogrande in Manizales.

10. Mark Geiger officiated the Group E game between eventual tournament champions Brazil and Austria at Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez in Barranquilla.

11. Mark Geiger is a member of the Professional Referee Organization.

12. Mark Geiger shared the news in a series of Instagram posts Friday, the first of which featured a photo of the couple.

13. While at Lacey Township High School, Mark Geiger was among 103 recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching in 2010.

14. Mark Geiger was born on August 25, 1974 and grew up in Beachwood, New Jersey.

15. Mark Geiger was selected as one of the final 12 referees on the shortlist to officiate the final or third place play-off match, and was ultimately selected to be VAR on the 3rd place match between Belgium and England.

16. Mark Geiger served as referee on three matches at the tournament and was VAR on five matches.

17. In the Group Stage, Mark 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.

18. Mark Geiger described the assignment to the World Cup as "an immensely proud moment".

19. In 2012, Mark Geiger was selected as one of 16 referees to officiate at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.