CONCACAF.com has posted the schedule and referees for 2nd round of 2004 Olympic Qualifying. Stott, Hall, and Prendergast all have assignments. See also: http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.asp?id=2207 2004 CONCACAF MEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING – SECOND ROUND MATCH-UPS SERIES A 15.11.2003: San Salvador, EL SALVADOR; Estadio Cuscutlan (15:00) - EL SALVADOR – CANADA R: Peter PRENDERGAST (JAM) 19.11.2003: Kelowna, British Columbia CANADA; Apple Bowl Stadium (19:00) - CANADA – EL SALVADOR R: Brian HALL (USA) SERIES B 15/16.11.2003: HAITI, HAITI – HONDURAS R: Richard PIPER (TRI) 19.11.2003: San Pedro Sula, HONDURAS; Estadio Morazán (19:00) - HONDURAS – HAITI R: German ARREDONDO (MEX) SERIES C 25.10.2003: Ciudad de Panamá, PANAMA; Estadio Rommel Fernández (20:00) - SAINT LUCIA – PANAMA R: Mark FORDE (BRB) 29.10.2003: Ciudad de Panamá, PANAMA; Estadio Rommel Fernández (20:30) - PANAMA – SAINT LUCIA R: Mauricio NAVARRO (CAN) SERIES D 15.11.2003: Basseterre, ST. KITTS & NEVIS; Warner Park (19:00) - ST. KITTS & NEVIS – USA R: Carlos BATRES (GUA) 19.11.2003: Germantown, Maryland USA; Maryland Sports Complex (19:30) - USA – ST. KITTS & NEVIS R: William MATTUS (CRC) SERIES E 15.11.2003: St. George’s, GRENADA; Grenada National Stadium (19:00) - GRENADA – TRINIDAD & TOBAGO R: Rodolfo SIBRIAN (SLV) 19.11.2003: Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO; Hasley Crawford Stadium (17:00) - TRINIDAD & TOBAGO – GRENADA R: Jose PINEDA (HON) SERIES F 16.11.2003: Kingston, JAMAICA; Tony Spaulding Sports Complex (17:00) - JAMAICA – GUATEMALA R: Jaggernath GOOLCHARAN (TRI) 19.11.2003: Quetzaltenango, GUATEMALA; Estadio Mario Camposeco (20:00) - GUATEMALA – JAMAICA R: Kevin STOTT (USA) SERIES G 15.11.2003: Cartago, COSTA RICA; Estadio Fello Meza (12:00) - COSTA RICA – GUYANA R: Mike SEIFERT (CAN) 23.11.2003: Berbice, GUYANA; Blairmont Community Center Ground (15:00) - GUYANA – COSTA RICA R: Alexander WILLIAMS (LUC)
Brian Hall has an interesting one too. Practically in his back yard (relatively speaking). Canada may have their work cut out for them with Prendergast in El Salvador.
The timing of their assignments (the 19th of November) possibly precludes either from being able to officiate at MLS Cup or in the conference championships. There will also be 4 FIFA ARs and two more FIFA CRs working as 4ths (possibly Kennedy and Valenzuela?) on duty for the same matches, so I'd expect to see a lot of National Referees working the final 3 matches of the MLS season.
So is that a good thing or not. I'd tend to think not. So if Hall, Stott, Kennedy and Valenzuela aren't available, who would generally considered the top referees available to work the final 3 MLS games?
Would doing a game on Wednesday preclude a game on Sunday? Or for that matter, doing an MLS game on Saturday preclude an international game on Wednesday?
That one I'm not too sure about. I am fairly confident, however, that CONCACAF and FIFA like to have their appointed referees refrain from working domestic league matches on the weekend before a weekday international match. In fact, I believe that with UEFA it is standard policy. I'm not 100% sure that CONCACAF has the same policy.
If the four Fifas mentioned are assigned, we'd still have Terry and Saheli with Terry being a likely referee for one of those three games. Prus also got a number of MLS assignments, so he could get a semi as well.
Just to clarify, I'm only speculating that Kennedy and Valenzuela are the 4th's. It's equally likely that Saheli and Terry are assigned.
I, as well, was just extrapoliating based on your hypothesis. In either case, there are still two Fifas that will be ready to work MLS during the semis and final.
Kennedy and Valenzuela is right. They all could be available to do MLS but my bet is that they will work game two of first round. Stott wont be available for the final since he will be at U-20 WC. Kennedy already did one of the Olympic Qualifiers (Nicaragua v. Panama) Remember, counting the final there are only 11 MLS playoff games. I doubt any ref will do more than one game (two if they get the final)
http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.asp?id=2278 Stott and Hall have the two matches where the home teams have a reasonable chance to overturn the away teams goal advantage. 19.11.2003: San Marcos, GUATEMALA; Estadio Marquesa De La Ensenada (12:30) GUATEMALA – JAMAICA R: Kevin STOTT (USA) Jamaica leads 2:0 on aggregate 19.11.2003: Kelowna, British Columbia CANADA; Apple Bowl Stadium (19:00) CANADA – EL SALVADOR R: Brian HALL (USA) El Salvador leads 1:0 on aggregate