Mark Geiger voted MLS Referee of the Year for second time
Mark Geiger has been named Major League Soccer's Referee of the Year, the league announced on Tuesday.
Geiger also won the award -- voted on by players, team personnel and media -- in 2011. He received a weighted total of 177.98 in the voting process, easily beating Jair Marrufo's 63.35 and Alan Kelly's 58.64.
Geiger officiated two matches during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, including a group stage match between Colombia and Greece that featured Colombian Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez.
• Geiger recalls incredible World Cup journey
Geiger was also the fourth official during the match between Italy and Uruguay when Luis Suarez bit Giorgio Chiellini.
“Unfortunately, no,” he told SI when asked if he saw Suárez feast on Giorgio Chiellini. “I’m scanning the field – there are a lot of players to be watching at that moment, and I see the two players fall to the ground. But I didn’t see the bite that happened right before … The ball was on the other side of the penalty area. I don’t think anyone [on the sideline] really saw it. There really was no reaction from the benches to indicate that something major had occurred.”
• FC Dallas forward Akindele named Rookie of the Year
MLS will conclude its conference finals this weekend. In the Eastern Conference, New York Red Bulls travel to New England down 2-1 after the first leg to take on the Revolution, while Seattle Sounders will host LA Galaxy, who currently hold a 1-0 lead.
- Paul Palladino
