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Mark Geiger to oversee MLS officials with PRO after retiring from refereeing

Mark Geiger has been appointed as director of senior match officials at America's Professional Referee Organization (PRO), the body has announced.

Geiger, 44, will retire from refereeing after 21 years to become the person in charge of overseeing MLS officials.

The PRO said he would be responsible for continuing the improvement of both on-field and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials in North America.

Geiger, who first refereed in MLS in May 2004, has also officiated at two World Cups and took charge of three matches at this summer's tournament in Russia.

"Having worked games in MLS for 15 years and internationally for 11, I felt it was time for me both personally and professionally to hang up my whistle and boots and start this new chapter," he said.

"I am extremely excited to join a team that is so dedicated and committed to improving the standards of refereeing in North America.

"I hope that my experiences will help our referees excel and take their individual games to the next level."

PRO General Manager Howard Webb called Geiger "a trailblazer for American officiating on the international stage."

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