NEW YORK (Friday, Oct. 14, 2022) – Major League Soccer and the Professional Referee Organization today announced 2022 FIFA World Cup referee Ismail Elfath as MLS Referee of the Year and Corey Rockwell as MLS Assistant Referee of the Year – both receiving the honor for the second time in their respective careers.
Elfath first won the award in 2020, and his illustrious career now includes193 matches MLS matches officiated, including 17 during the 2022 MLS regular season. Elfath made his MLS officiating debut on May 19, 2012, and he is set to represent the U.S. and PRO as a referee at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November. Elfath joins Allen Chapman, Mark Geiger, Alan Kelly, Paul Tamberino, and Brian Hall as the only officials to win this award more than once
Rockwell is also a two-time recipient, after previously 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 matches throughout the 2022 MLS regular season, and his career highlights include representing the U.S. and PRO at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and was 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 Professional Referee Organization, 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:
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% |
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:
