Historic call for Jersey ref

THE NEW JERSEY schoolteacher turned World Cup ref is moving

to the head of the class.

Mark Geiger, 39, of Beachwood, N.J., will become the first American referee ever to work a knock

out stage match in the tournament, as

he has been assigned Monday’s France- NigeriamatchintheRoundof1

6in Brasilia, Brazil.

In the group stage, Geiger officiated Chile’s victory over Spain

and Colombia’s win over Greece. He

also worked as the fourth official—

the one positioned on the sidelines who handles substitutions and stoppage time at the end of each half—

for Uruguay’s win over Italy.

Geiger, who started working pro games in 2004, left his job as a decoratedmathteacheratLaceyTo

wnship High School in February

of 2013 in order toofficiatefull-time andpursuehisgoalofworkin

ga World Cup. HetoldtheDailyNewsinarecen

t interviewthathewaslookingf

orward to performing in the pressurepackedenvironmentinBrazil.“

The morepassionatethefans,thebetter the game is going to be,” he said. “Somepeopletakeittoofar.Butthe playersfeedoffofitandIcerta

inly feed off it.”

In aWorldCupthatwasmarked earlyonbycontroversialrefe

reeingdecisions—the dubious penalty kick awardedtoBrazilintheopener against Croatia on a dive by Fred, andthetwogoalsMexicohadd

isallowed against Cameroon due

to whatappearedtobeincorrecto

ffside calls — Geiger has earned praise for his work as head referee. And nowhehasearnedabitofAmer

ican soccer history.