Major League Soccer and the Professional Referee Organization Friday announced 2022 World Cup referee Ismail Elfath as the MLS referee of the year and Corey Rockwell as its assistant referee of the year.
Both received the honor for the second time in their respective careers.
Elfath won the award in 2020. His illustrious career includes 193 matches MLS matches officiated, including 17 during the 2022 regular season. Elfath, who made his league officiating debut on May 19, 2012, is set to represent the U.S. and PRO as a referee in Qatar in November. Elfath joined Allen Chapman, Mark Geiger, Alan Kelly, Paul Tamberino, and Brian Hall as the officials to win this award more than once.
Rockwell is also a two-time recipient, after winning the award in 2011. He has officiated 340 MLS matches since making his officiating debut on April 8, 2005. Rockwell has served as an assistant referee for 27 games throughout the regular season. His career highlights include representing the U.S. and PRO at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and as an assistant referee in the 2019 MLS Cup final. Rockwell joins Kermit Quisenberry and Corey Parker as the only assistant referees to receive this honor twice in their careers.
Nominated by a selection process that included match officials and executives from the PRO, candidates for both MLS referee and assistant referee of the year were voted on by MLS club technical staff, media and MLS players.
Below is the voting breakdown:
Referee of the Year
|
||||
Name | Player Vote | Club Vote | Media Vote | Average Vote |
Elfath, Ismail | 35.40% | 47.20% | 25.50% | 36.03% |
Chapman, Allen | 39.10% | 26.80% | 31.90% | 32.60% |
Villarreal, Armando | 25.50% | 26.00% | 42.60% | 31.37% |
Assistant Referee of the Year
|
||||
Name | Player Vote | Club Vote | Media Vote |
Average Vote
|
Rockwell, Corey | 27.40% | 39.80% | 44.70% | 37.30% |
Anderson, Ian | 40.10% | 37.40% | 23.40% | 33.63% |
Elliott, Chris | 32.50% | 22.80% | 31.90% | 29.07% |
A full list of the previous award winners for both awards can be found below:
MLS Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year Award Winners
|
||
Season | Referee of the Year | AR of the Year |
2022 | Ismail Elfath | Corey Rockwell |
2021 | Robert Sibiga | Cory Richardson |
2020 | Ismail Elfath | Kathryn Nesbitt |
2019 | Allen Chapman | Brian Dunn |
2018 | Alan Kelly | Joe Fletcher |
2017 | Allen Chapman | Corey Parker |
2016 | Alan Kelly | Frank Anderson |
2015 | Alan Kelly | Corey Parker |
2014 | Mark Geiger | Paul Scott |
2013 | Hilario Grajeda | Kermit Quisenberry |
2012 | Silviu Petrescu | Ian Anderson |
2011 | Mark Geiger | Corey Rockwell |
2010 | Kevin Stott | Craig Lowry |
2009 | Alex Prus | Greg Barkey |
2008 | Jair Marrufo | Kermit Quisenberry |
2007 | Brian Hall | N/A |
2006 | Brian Hall | N/A |
2005 | Brian Hall | N/A |
2004 | Abiodun Okulaja | N/A |
2003 | Brian Hall | N/A |
2002 | Kevin Terry | N/A |
2001 | Paul Tamberino | N/A |
2000 | Paul Tamberino | N/A |
1999 | Paul Tamberino | N/A |
1998 | Paul Tamberino | N/A |
1997 | Esse Baharmast | N/ |