Matthew Conger Explained

Matthew Conger
Birth Date:11 October 1978[1]
Birth Place:Plano, Texas, U.S.
Otheroccupation:Teacher
Years1:2007–2024
League1:NZFC
Role1:Referee
Years2:2014–2019
League2:A-League
Role2:Referee
Internationalyears1:2013–2024
Confederation1:FIFA listed
Internationalrole1:Referee

Matthew Conger (born 11 October 1978) is a retired New Zealand football referee from Palmerston North. Born in Texas, United States, Conger operated in the Australian A-League and the New Zealand Football Championship. He is a former school teacher from Palmerston North who now works for Sport Manawatu.[2]

Refereeing career

Conger began refereeing in the United States as a teenager, continuing after moving to New Zealand in his early 20s.

Conger has refereed at the 2015 Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the 2017 Under-20 World Cup in South Korea, the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He has also officiated in numerous A-League and New Zealand Football Championship games. He has also been the man in the middle for OFC Champions League games.[1]

In 2016, Conger left full-time teaching in order to concentrate more on his refereeing, but in 2017 was engaged part-time at Palmerston North's Carncot School.[3]

In 2017, Conger was named the New Zealand referee of the year.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Matthew Conger " Matches as referee . Worldfootball.net . 10 August 2015.
  2. News: Conger climbs referees' ladder . . 22 December 2012 . 22 February 2016 . Heagney, George.
  3. Web site: Kiwi football referee Matt Conger off to 2018 Fifa World Cup finals in Russia . . 29 November 2017 . 1 June 2018 . Heagney, George.