Héctor Vergara

Who is Héctor Vergara?

Héctor Vergara is a Canadian football referee. Although born in San Javier, Chile, Vergara grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He attended John Taylor Collegiate. In the early 1990s Vergara earned a Bachelor of Recreation Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Advance Psychology from the University of Manitoba.

Vergara played soccer competitively for 10 years and recreationally for 30 years. He began working as a referee in 1983 and now has 28 years of experience as a referee. As executive director of the Manitoba Soccer Association, Vergara oversees the MSA’s many member leagues, clubs and associations, not to mention the countless players, coaches, volunteers – and yes, referees – throughout Manitoba. Since he was hired, the MSA’s core staff has grown from two or three employees to seven, mirroring soccer’s rise in popularity in the province and the world. Vergara has become one of the most prolific – and well-respected – referees in Canada.

Vergara retired as a FIFA Assistant Referee effective November 12, 2011, the day after his last FIFA international appointment. He was part of the full Canadian crew alongside Mauricio Navarro, Daniel Belleau and David Gantar that took take charge of the FIFA World Cup Qualifying match between the US Virgin Islands and Curaçao on November 11, 2011 in Frederiksted, US Virgin Islands.