Ismail Elfath Named MLS Referee of the Year, Corey Rockwell Named MLS Assistant Referee
October 14, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK – 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:
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/A
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