Ismail Elfath and Corey Rockwell awarded with MLS accolades
Ismail Elfath has been named the 2022 MLS Referee of the Year, and Corey Rockwell is the 2022 MLS Assistant Referee of the Year.
Elfath first won the award in 2020, and his illustrious career now includes 193 regular-season 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 regular-season 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 the Professional Referee Organization, candidates for both the 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
Ismail Elfath (36.03%)
Assistant Referee of the Year
Corey Rockwell (37.30%)