Allen Chapman and Corey Parker receive MLS Awards

Allen Chapman and Corey Parker have been named as the 2017 MLS Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year, as voted for by MLS club management, media, and players.

Nominated by U.S. Soccer, Canadian Soccer Association and the MLS Competition Committee, Chapman came out on top in the voting ahead of fellow referees Ismail Elfath and Mark Geiger.

Parker led the way among assistant referees, earning the title ahead of PRO colleagues Adam Wienckowski and Jeremy Hanson.

Chapman is a seasoned PRO official with MLS experience dating back to his first match in 2012. He has officiated in the MLS Cup Playoffs from the center and last year served as the fourth official during MLS Cup. The official also took charge of the MLS All-Star Game against Real Madrid earlier this year.

Michael Kennedy, PRO’s Referee Manager, paid tribute to Chapman, saying: “I am pleased that Allen has earned this recognition. He has shown great dedication to his physical training and has delivered good consistent performances this season. His thoughtful work in our training camps and with his teammates on match day demonstrates his professional commitment to the game.”

Earning his second MLS Assistant Referee of the Year honor in three years is Corey Parker. The AR was the 2015 recipient of the award and has been on the FIFA panel dating back to that year. He has run the sidelines at key MLS events, including the 2014 MLS All-Star Game, MLS Cup Playoffs, and the 2015 MLS Cup.

Upon hearing of Parker’s achievement, Greg Barkey, PRO’s Manager of Assistant Referees, said: “I’m happy to see Corey has been recognized for his efforts this year. He has consistently delivered a high level of accuracy in his decisions all season and is a complete professional in his training and match preparation.”

For more on the MLS Awards and for the voting breakdown, click here.