NEW YORK — It is commonplace in professional soccer for teams and players to use black armbands during the course of an official match to commemorate someone’s passing.
However, it is rare that referees are seen wearing them.
The passing of former MLS referee Reggie Rutty last weekend moved the American refereeing fraternity to make the gesture.
“Reggie was well-liked as a referee and as a person, and he loved the game,” said Paul Tamberino, US Soccer Director of Referee Development. “When we heard about his death, some of the refs wanted to honor Reggie in their own way with black armbands.”
The league gave the thumbs-up and all MLS matches this week will see the officiating crews donning the black armbands, beginning with Wednesday night’s match between Chicago and Toronto FC at Toyota Park.
Rutty passed away after a battle against cancer that lasted for more than a year.
“In his mind, he was going to fight this thing, and he tried everything,” said Florida State Referee Administrator Joszef Michna, who knew Rutty since the early 1980s. “He would go out running and bicycling to keep his fitness up, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out.”
Rutty worked in MLS from 1996 to 2002, manning the middle in 20 matches and serving as assistant referee on 12 occasions and as fourth official 15 times, primarily for matches in Florida.
Although he left the MLS ranks in 2002 to spend more time with his family, Rutty continued to serve the game as a state referee and also became a referee assessor.
The son of a Florida state referee, Rutty worked as an assessor as recently as last May at the US Soccer Development Academy Spring Showcase in Sarasota, Fla.
“He looked tired, but he was OK and it was good to see him,” said Tamberino, who at times worked alongside Rutty on the same officiating crews in MLS. “Then he took a turn for the worse.”
Rutty leaves behind a wife, Adriana, and two children.
The funeral service will be held this Saturday at 4 p.m. ET at Landmark Funeral Home, 4200 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Fla. Donations to the college fund for Rutty’s son, Ian, can be made by calling (954) 275-2804.
