The controversies that marked Mark Geiger's referee career

The American referee has a long list of scandals. But there was a time when he was considered the best referee in the United States. However, his career has been marked more by his bad performances than by the good ones.

France-Nigeria Brazil 2014

During the round of 16 matches between France and Nigeria in the 2014 World Cup, Frenchman Blaise Matuidi broke the tibia and fibula of the Nigerian player Ogenyi Onazi. An action that left the African out of the tournament and Geiger who was less than four meters away decided to punish the action only with a yellow card.

Source: Youtube

Panama-Mexico "The robbery of the century"

During the semifinals of the 2015 Gold Cup between Panama and Mexico, the Canaleros were winning 1-0 when the American referee whistled a penalty in favor of the Mexican squad to equalize the game and forced the overtime. In extra time another penalty gave the Mexican team the victory to reach the final. Shortly after this match, Mark Geiger was suspended 6 months by FIFA.

Colombia-England 2018

During this game, there were two controversial actions that led more than 170 thousand Colombians to start a campaign on Change.org website. A petition for FIFA to review the round of 16 meeting, in which both plays were not submitted to the VAR affecting the final result. Especially the penalty signaled on Harry Kane which reminded the Colombians what happened in 2014 with the goal of Yepes.

Germany-South Korea 2018

We can not say that Germany was at its best or that it did not deserve to fall in the group stage in Russia 2018 but in the match against Korea were two decisions of the American that determined the course of the game. Mark Geiger went to the refereed video arbitration on two occasions to validate the goals to the Asians, the second half ended by sealing the ticket of the Mexican team to the Octavos de Final.