Chris Penso

Last updated
Chris Penso
Chris Penso NYCFC.Seattle.18.Oct.2025-034 (cropped).jpg
Penso in 2025
Born (1982-04-28) April 28, 1982 (age 43)
Dover, Ohio, U.S.
Domestic
YearsLeagueRole
2011– Major League Soccer Referee
International
YearsLeagueRole
2013–2015 FIFA listed Referee
2021– FIFA listed VAR

Chris Penso (born April 28, 1982) is an American soccer referee who is active in Major League Soccer. [1]

Contents

Career

Penso was raised in Dover, Ohio, and unsuccessfully ran for mayor of the city while studying accounting at Kent State University. He began refereeing in 1997, and also worked at the Transportation Security Administration and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. He quit the state patrol in 2006 to become a full-time referee, and officiated his first Major League Soccer match in 2011. [2]

Penso became FIFA listed in 2013 and his first international assignment was on January 30, 2013, when he refereed a match between Mexico and Denmark. He served as a FIFA referee until 2015. In 2021, Penso was added to the FIFA list as a VAR. [1]

Internationals

DateLocationTeamsScorelineCompetitionYellow card.svgYellow card.svg Red card.svgRed card.svg
January 30, 2013 Phoenix Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico – Denmark League XI Flag of Denmark.svg 1 – 1Friendly300
May 28, 2013 Edmonton Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada – Costa Rica Flag of Costa Rica.svg 0 – 1Friendly202
October 31, 2013 San Diego Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico – Finland Flag of Finland.svg 4 – 2Friendly100
June 3, 2014 Tampa Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica – Japan Flag of Japan.svg 1 – 3Friendly300
September 9, 2014 Commerce City Flag of Bolivia.svg Bolivia – Mexico Flag of Mexico.svg 0 – 1Friendly201
November 19, 2014 Panama City Flag of Panama.svg Panama – Canada Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 0 – 0Friendly310
May 31, 2015 Washington D.C. Flag of Honduras (2022-present).svg Honduras – El Salvador Flag of El Salvador.svg 2 – 0Friendly401
September 8, 2015 Harrison Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia – Peru Flag of Peru.svg 1 – 1Friendly500
October 14, 2015 Washington D.C. Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada – Ghana Flag of Ghana.svg 1 – 1Friendly300

Personal life

Penso's wife, Tori, is also a professional referee. In 2020, she became the first woman to referee a Major League Soccer match in 20 years. She also refereed the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final. They have three daughters. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Profile: Chris Penso". Professional Referee Organization. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  2. ↑ Reed, Tom (May 26, 2013). "Politics aside, Chris Penso follows his dream to officiate and will work U.S. National team friendly in Cleveland". Cleveland Plain Dealer . Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  3. ↑ Hills, Drake (September 25, 2020). "How Tori Penso became the first woman in 20 years to referee an MLS game". The Tennessean . Retrieved September 27, 2020.
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