Former FIFA referee Kevin Stott will end his 27-year career in MLS at the age of 55. The longest-tenured professional referee in the US Soccer history and the last continuing serving player, coach or referee from the MLS inaugural 1996 season has announced his retirement at the end of this regular MLS.
Stott refereed his first MLS match, Dallas Burn – Kansas City Wiz, on 18 April 1996 and his last game will be LA Galaxy – Real Salt Lake, on 1 October 2022. He is the all-time leader in MLS matches with 595 appearances: 422 referee, 91 fourth official and 82 video match official appointments. Stott refereed the MLS Cup in 2001, 2005 and 2009, in addition to the US Open Cup Final in 2000 and the first ever MLS All-Star Game in the inaugural 1996 season. He also have the remarkable streak of refereeing an MLS Cup play-off game in every season (26) of the league’s history.
As international referee (1995-2008), Stott was a support official at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and refereed matches at the U-20 World Cups 2001 and 2003, as well as the U-17 World Cup 2005. He refereed many World Cup Qualifiers, Gold Cup matches, and Concacaf club competitions. Stott intends to continue his career for a few seasons as a VAR.
Source: PSRA
