A World Cup referee from New Jersey is in the middle of an international incident, but FIFA has his back.
The world soccer governing body released a statement of support for Ocean County native Mark Geiger and denied the allegation made by a Morocco player that Geiger asked for a Portugal player's jersey while working Wednesday's Portugal-Morocco match in Group B play (Portugal prevailed, 1-0, in Moscow).
After the match was over, "Morocco's Nordin Amrabat told Dutch television station NOS that Geiger had spoken to Cristiano Ronaldo and asked if he could have the jersey of Pepe, the Portugal defender," according to USA Today.
Geiger, who was a math teacher at Lacey Township High before becoming a full-time referee who works Major League Soccer contests, grew up in Beachwood and currently resides in Pine Beach according to public records. Geiger "strongly refutes these claims and categorically states that such a request was not made," according to the FIFA statement, which adds "it can be confirmed that Mr. Geiger has acted in an exemplary and professional manner as an appointed match official."
Amrabat was not made available for further comment, according to USA Today. Morocco's loss to Portugal dashed its hopes of advancing to the knockout round.
"I don't know what [Geiger] is used to, but he was very impressed by Cristiano [Ronaldo]," Amrabat said to the Dutch TV station, via ESPN. "I've been just told by Pepe that in the [first half], he asked if he could have his shirt. Come on, man. What are we talking about? ... We are at the World Cup, not a circus here."
The ESPN story adds Geiger has a live microphone on him the entire match due to video replay procedures, so any inappropriate conduct would have been recorded, or in this case, it seems, proven false.
James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.