Referee Mark Geiger will be the head official for the Seattle Sounders’ rivalry match against the Portland Timbers on Saturday (12 p.m. PT; FOX, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS), the Professional Referee Organization announced on Tuesday. He will be joined by assistants Jeremy Hanson and Mike Rottersman and fourth official Allen Chapman.
Geiger has been a referee since 2004 and has logged over 150 MLS games. He has officiated the 2016 Copa America, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2014 MLS Cup, the 2011 and ’13 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the 2012 Olympics and the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup. He was named the 2011 and ’14 MLS Referee of the Year, as well as the ’14 CONCACAF Referee of the Year.
Geiger officiated two Sounders matches last season, a 2-1 home loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps on March 19 and a 2-1 road loss to FC Dallas on Oct. 16. He issued 10 total yellow cards in those two matches, six to opponents and four to the Sounders.