[andymoss]

Kevin Stott, of Chino, Calif., will be the MLS Cup referee for a third time, also presiding over the 2001 and 2005 finals. Stott ran the middle in 20 games during the MLS regular season, whistling an average of 23.5 fouls per game, slightly higher than the league average of 22.9. He issued an average of 3.8 cautions per game, also just slightly above the league average of 3.74. He sent off four players while awarding two penalty kicks. Stott was also the referee in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal Series between Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Stott has been a FIFA referee since 1995 and has officiated in MLS since the inaugural season.

* * * * *

The assistant referees are C.J. Morgante of Grove City, Pa., who will be running the line in his first MLS Cup Final, and Robert Fereday of Laurel, Md., in his second (also 2007). The fourth official is Baldomero Toledo of Norwalk, Calif., who was the referee in MLS Cup 2008.

[LiquidYogi]

YAY Kevin! He's from my area and I always think he does a great job. Good luck to him and his team, hopefully it'll be a Fairly Played Final.

[SPref]

I think this is a very good selection for the final

[ManiacalClown]

Let's hope it's not a similar match to the last time Stott had the final. 51 fouls and 10 cautions!

2001 had 27 fouls and 5 cautions, for comparison.

[LiquidYogi]

Originally Posted by ManiacalClown

Let's hope it's not a similar match to the last time Stott had the final. 51 fouls and 10 cautions!

2001 had 27 fouls and 5 cautions, for comparison.

Sounds like the players didn't want to play.

[DougO]

2005 was the year the Galaxy ended the season with a .500 record and got hot for the playoffs, against New England; Pando's extra-time goal won the game. Of the top 10 fouls committed players in the playoffs, the top 6 were on these two teams and a 7th was in the top 10 (11; 3 tied for 9th position):

FOULS COMMITTED
PLAYER TEAM GP FC
Herculez Gomez LA 4 14
Ugo Ihemelu LA 4 13
Shalrie Joseph NE 4 12
Chris Albright LA 4 9
Clint Dempsey NE 4 9
Daniel Hernandez NE 4 9
Jovan Kirovski COL 3 9
Gonzalo Segares CHI 3 9
Youri Djorkaeff MET 2 8
Jesse Marsch CHI 3 8
Pat Noonan NE 4 8

[flornatref]

All four of these officials are extremely classy and professional. Thoroughly deserving of the assignment, and I am proud to call them my friends and peers.

[ManiacalClown]

Originally Posted by LiquidYogi

Sounds like the players didn't want to play.

It was a really, really awful soccer match.

[Ref Flunkie]

I like K-dog. Him and Prus are my fav's.

[MassachusettsRef]

Best referee this country has produced in 20+ years gets three MLS Cup finals. Deserved.

Deserved, but surprising. Surprising because he no longer wears the white badge, but also because he's passing people (like Hall) that have a say in his assignment. This appointment speaks to just how much Kevin Stott is respected in our community. A humble, professional, and a spectacular referee.

Until we send someone to the final four matches of a WC tournament, I think he's the gold standard.