PRO Names Geiger as General Manager

Geiger is a retired referee with significant MLS & FIFA experience.

Staff Reports
The Pyramid Soccer News

Former World Cup & FIFA referee Mark Geiger has been named as the new general manager of the Professional Referee Organization.

Geiger replaces Howard Webb as GM after Webb left PRO last year to return to a role with England’s Professional Game Match Officials Limited. Webb served in the PRO GM role for four years.

Due to his international success and long career with Major League Soccer, Geiger is a well-known referee in the United States among general MLS fans and the referee community.

"As someone involved with MLS for 20 years, he is well-suited to continue the upward trajectory of officiating in recent years," the Professional Soccer Referees Association said in a statement Friday posted on social media. "His leadership will continue to ensure that our Officials are world-class."

PSRA is a union that represents referees in the U.S. and Canada who officiate for PRO.

PRO serves as an administrator of professional referee programs and employs referees in the United States and Canada assigned to matches in MLS, the National Women’s Soccer League, the United Soccer League, and competitions such as the U.S. Open Cup.

PRO is a separate entity from the leagues because FIFA does not allow leagues to directly control referee programs. Although, sources tell The Pyramid that PRO’s five-member board is controlled by the U.S. Soccer Federation and MLS, with one independent member.

After 21 years, Geiger retired from officiating in 2019. He has served as PRO’s director of senior match officials since then.

Geiger started officiating in the MLS in 2004, and ultimately was in charge of 186 MLS matches. He officiated the 2014 MLS Cup, and he was named MLS Referee of the Year twice, and once as CONCACAF Referee of the Year.

He gained the attention of general soccer fans in the U.S. with his appearance as a referee in 2014 World Cup, among many other international competitions.

Statement from PRO:

https://proreferees.com/2023/02/03/mark-geiger-named-as-the-new-general-manager-of-pro/

Photo credit: PRO