Kapl completed the matura with distinction in 1965 at the High School of the Schlierbach Abbey and then studied jurisprudence, business administration and political science at the University of Graz.

Because of his success, Kapl received the professional title "Hofrat", the highest honor that can be given to a state official.

On 28 November 1992, Kapl ended his career as a football referee with the game between SK Vorwärts Steyr and VfB Mödling (3:2) for reasons of age.

Highlights in his international referee career was refereeing the European Cup game between Olympique de Marseille and AC Sparta Prague (3:2) on 23 October 1991 and the qualifier for the UEFA Euro 1992 between Greece and Finland (2:0) on 30 October 1991 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.

Following his retirement as an active referee, Kapl started an even successful career as a football official.

[5] At the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, he was responsible for the security of the games in the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, and therefore responsible for the opening match between South Africa and Mexico (1:1) and the final between the Netherlands and Spain (0:1 after overtime).

In addition to these major events, other highlights of his official career were the UEFA Supercup final between Real Madrid C.F.

He was elected in 1999 in his home land, by a large majority, for the position of President of the Styria Football Association (German: Steirischer Fußball-Verband, StFV).

[4][6] FIFA president Sepp Blatter praised Gerhard Kapl for "many ways of excellent services" in a personal letter.