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The Best Seat in the House

March 4, 2004

CHICAGO (March 4, 2004) - Esse Baharmast was the first American to referee two games at the World Cup in France in 1998. In a game between Norway and Brazil he was widely criticized for a penalty kick call, but then later celebrated when a photographers’ photos showed the shirt-pulling that the TV cameras had not picked up. One year prior to being named the 1997 MLS Referee of the Year, he refereed the U.S. Open Cup, MLS and A-League Finals as well as the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.