Local named head official in MLS cup final

On Sunday soccer fans might be tuning into the Major League Soccer cup final.

What they might not know is that one El Pasoan will be on the field.

He won’t be playing but he will be officiating the game.

Some say the game has been around since the third century.

In recent years soccer has gained popularity with millions of fans around the world.

On Sunday Major League Soccer will hold its cup final and Jair Marrufo will be on the field.

“I got the phone call Tuesday morning and it was very exiting to know they have the confidence in me to referee the final,” said Marrufo.

Marrufo is not only going to referee the game-he was named head official.

Marrufo is a professional referee for Major League Soccer and for the Federation International Football Association or FIFA.

Like many he started from the bottom.

“When I was 19 I started doing under 8’s, under 10s and under 12-year-olds,” Marrufo said.

He went on to referee national games, even Olympic soccer and while many might believe it would be a dream job, it isn’t easy.

“It’s very demanding. The traveling, it takes a toll sometimes. From beginning of March through the end of December we travel,” Marrufo told ABC-7.

There’s also physical training, running, conditioning and weightlifting.

“We have to do that every day. We have to comply. We have a heart monitor and a GPS tracker. They know what we’re doing and when we’re doing it,” Marrufo said.

But there’s also the perks of the game.

“You get to visit places you’ve never imagined. I’ve been to South Africa, Nigeria, China, Spain and Italy,” said Marrufo.

And even though Marrufo has made it to the big time he still has goals for the future.

“My goal is to go to the World Cup in Russia. So I’m going to work very hard to represent El Paso in Russia,” Marrufo said.