PRO officials to open Gold Cup
The 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup begins this Saturday with seven PRO officials assigned to games on the tournament’s opening weekend.
Dave Gantar has been appointed as VAR for Saturday’s opener between Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago – 10 years since making his first appearance in the Gold Cup as a center referee. Greg Barkey (PRO’s Manager of Video Review) will be the VAR assessor for this game.
Jair Marrufo has officiated at five previous Gold Cups since joining the FIFA panel in 2007, and he will take charge of the game between El Salvador and Guatemala – who replaced Curaçao on Friday, with Frank Anderson and Kathryn Nesbitt named as assistant referees.
Both have won the MLS Assistant Referee of the Year award – Anderson in 2016 before officiating at the FIFA World Cup two years later, and Nesbitt in 2020. The Video Review booth also has a strong PRO presence with Tim Ford and Allen Chapman working as VAR and AVAR, and Mark Geiger (PRO’s Director of Senior Match Officials) serving as VAR assessor.
Both games are being played in Texas with Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago kicking off this year’s Gold Cup at AT&T Stadium at 10PM ET, while El Salvador clash with Guatemala at Toyota Stadium on Sunday.
In between these games, Canada face Martinique and United States play Haiti in a double-header at Children’s Mercy Park. Edvin Jurisevic is the VAR for the game between the Canucks and Martinique at 6:30PM ET.
Mexico vs Trinidad and Tobago (07/10/21)
VAR: Dave Gantar
Canada vs Martinique (07/11/21)
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
El Salvador vs Curacao (07/11/21)
REF: Jair Marrufo
AR1: Frank Anderson
AR2: Kathryn Nesbitt
VAR: Tim Ford
AVAR: Allen Chapman
Read more: 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup assignments