Héctor Saíd Martínez Sorto (born 7 August 1991) Also known as "The Lion" is a Honduran football referee who is a listed international referee for FIFA since 2017.[1] He is also one of the referees for the Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras.
| Full name | Héctor Saíd Martínez Sorto | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 7 August 1991 Tocoa, Honduras | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras | Referee | ||
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2017– | FIFA | Referee | |
| CONCACAF | Referee | ||
Biography
Saíd Martínez was born in Tocoa on 7 August 1991. At the age of ten, he began the dream of being a referee with the example of his father, and made the decision in becoming a referee. With dedication and determination, he was the youngest to make his debut in football matches in the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras at just 18 years of age.[2][3]
With many hopes in his professional life, he decided to move to Tegucigalpa due to the lack of opportunities in Tocoa. He entered the Francisco Morazán National Pedagogical University, where in a few years he would become a professional in mathematics, which makes this promise of refereeing one of the most prepared in this career.[4][5]
Refereeing career
Martínez became an international referee for FIFA and CONCACAF in 2017.[6] He had officiated at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States, Costa Rica and Jamaica,[7] the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.[8]
Martínez had recently officiated the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup,[9] and had officiated the final between the United States and Mexico.[10]
In June 2023, Martínez was chosen to referee the CONCACAF Nations League final between Canada and the United States.[11]
In July 2023, Martinez was chosen to referee in some 2023 Leagues Cup games, this include Lionel Messis first match for Inter Miami against Cruz Azul. [12]
