Major League Soccer, in conjunction with the U.S. Soccer Federation, today announced the referee pool for the League's 10th season, which kicks off on Saturday, April 2, 2005. A total of 24 referees and 43 assistant referees will be responsible for officiating the 203 regular season and MLS Cup playoffs games.
Kevin Stott, who was honored by FIFA as one of 46 international referees selected to compete for one of the 30 referee positions at the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006, will be the referee for the highly anticipated first game of the year when Freddy Adu and D.C. United travels to The Home Depot Center to face Ramon Ramirez and CD Chivas USA on Saturday, April 2 from The Home Depot Center (live on ABC Sports at 3:00 p.m. ET). Abbie Okulaja, the 2004 MLS Referee of the Year, will be the man in the middle for Real Salt Lake's first ever game on Saturday when Clint Mathis leads his team to Giants Stadium to take on reigning MLS Honda MVP Amado Guevara and his MetroStars (7:00 p.m. ET).
Referee Assignments for MLS First Kick on Saturday, April 2, 2005
D.C. United at CD Chivas USA
The Home Depot Center - 3:00 p.m. ET
Referee - Kevin Stott
SAR (Bench Side) - Craig Lowry
JAR (Far Side) - Chris Strickland
4th Official - Ramon Hernandez
Real Salt Lake at MetroStars
Giants Stadium - 7:00 p.m. ET
Referee - Abbey Okulaja
SAR (Bench Side) - Greg Barkey
JAR (Far Side) - Nate Clement
4th Official - Jair Marrufo
Los Angeles Galaxy at Columbus Crew
Crew Stadium - 7:30 p.m. ET
Referee - Mark Gieger
SAR (Bench Side) - Robert Fereday
JAR (Far Side) - Richard Eddy
4th Official Terry Vaughn
Colorado Rapids at Kansas City Wizards
Arrowhead Stadium - 8:00 p.m. ET
Referee - Alex Prus
SAR (Bench Side) - Thomas Supple
JAR (Far Side) - Steven Taylor
4th Official - Roni Canales
Chicago Fire at FC Dallas
The Cotton Bowl - 8:30 p.m. ET
Referee - Ricardo Valenzuela
SAR (Bench Side) - Kermit Quisenberry
JAR (Far Side) - Fabio Tovar
4th Official - TBD
New England Revolution at San Jose Earthquakes
Spartan Stadium - 10:00 p.m. ET
Referee - Baldemero Toledo
SAR (Bench Side) - George Gansner
JAR (Far Side - Steven Davidson
4th Official - Richard Herron
Referees |
Assistant Referees |
Assistant Referees and 4th Official |
|---|---|---|
Roni Canales (1)
|
*Greg Barkey
|
Mark Gorak
|
Andy Chapin (1)
|
David Bragg
|
Rizal Milliken
|
Mark Geiger (1)
|
*Nate Clement
|
Mikael Lundqvist
|
Hilario Grajeda (0)
|
Jose Corro
|
Ben Chouaf
|
*Brian Hall (9)
|
*Steve Davidson
|
Matt Grove
|
Ramon Hernandez (1)
|
Jorge de la Bandera
|
Scott McCaslin
|
Richard Heron (8)
|
Bill Dittmar
|
Adam Garner
|
Ben Jones (0)
|
Rick Eddy
|
Troy Travis
|
*Michael Kennedy (9)
|
*Rob Fereday
|
Brad Clem
|
Jair Marrufo (3)
|
*George Gansner
|
Mark Arblaster
|
Jeffrey Mellen (0)
|
Kenneth Kaplan
|
Arnold Baldeaux
|
Abbey Okulaja (2)
|
*Craig Lowry
|
Niko Bratsis
|
*Alex Prus (8)
|
CJ Morgante
|
Gunther Haidenthaller
|
Gus St. Silva (5)
|
Emiliano Monje
|
Feliciano Palomino
|
Ricardo Salazar (6)
|
*Kermit Quisenberry
|
Tyler Ploeger
|
Erich Simmons (7)
|
Corey Rockwell
|
Alexander Mitelman
|
Brent Sorg (1)
|
Chip Reed
|
Yader Reyes
|
*Kevin Stott (9)
|
Paul Scott
|
Kari Seitz
|
Lee Suckle (0)
|
*Chris Strickland
|
|
*Kevin Terry (9)
|
*Tom Supple
|
|
Baldomero Toledo (1)
|
Steve Taylor
|
|
*Ricardo Valenzuela (9)
|
Fabio Tovar
|
|
*Terry Vaughn (7)
|
Anthony Vasoli (0)
|
|
Marcel Yonan (9)
|
*George Vergara (9)
|
|
Adam Wienckowski (0)
|
- Denote FIFA-certified referees, who are eligible to work games in the FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Olympics, and other international competitions in the United States and abroad. The United States Soccer Federation (USSF), which oversees the assignment, assessment, and training of all referees in the country, assigned the four-man teams to officiate each game.
