Michelle Pye (born 1978) is a Canadian soccer referee. She was given her international badge by FIFA in 2007.[citation needed] Pye is one of only seven international soccer referees in Canada.[1] She began her career as an official in Kamloops, British Columbia in the mid-1990s. Since age 13 she has worked her way up to the highest level possible for a soccer match official.[2]
Since receiving international status, Pye continues to be a returning official each year.
In 2012, along with Carol Anne Chénard, Dave Gantar, Silviu Petrescu, and Paul Ward, Pye was named again to the 2012 FIFA list of referees.[3]
Referee Pye was previously appointed to the tournament at New Zealand 2008 and Trinidad and Tobago 2010.[4]
On 27–29 July, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada was the stage of the 2012 W-League Championship, the crowning event of the highest level of women's soccer in the United States and Canada. Three national list officials participated in the event: Michelle Pye, Suzanne Morisset and Sheena Dickson. Pye and Morisset attended this year's CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship in Guatemala. Morisset has also been appointed to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Azerbaijan 2012. Dickson was appointed to the CISM World Military Women Football Championship in Germany this past June where was selected to officiate in the Gold Medal match.
Referee Pye has been on the FIFA List of Referees and Assistant Referees since 2007 while assistant referee Morisset has been on the FIFA List since 2008. The 2012 CONCACAF Women's Under-17 Championship runs 2–13 May in Ciudad Guatemala, Guatemala. That eight-team tournament will feature Canada, USA, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Bahamas, Panama and host Guatemala. Three of the eight teams will qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Azerbaijan 2012.[5]