Ismail Elfath named MLS Referee of the Year

Ismail Elfath has been named MLS Referee of the Year for the first time in his career, Major League Soccer and the Professional Referee Organization announced Wednesday.

Elfath, who was also nominated in 2013 and 2017, was the referee for the MLS is Back Tournament Final, one of 16 center roles in 2020.

The nine-year MLS official and FIFA referee since 2012 has 160 total career referee assignments, including the MLS All-Star Game (2015), Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Finals (2015, 2017), FIFA Under-20 World Cup Final (2019), FIFA Club World Cup (2019) and Concacaf Gold Cup (2019).

Nominated by the Professional Referee Organization, candidates for MLS Referee of the Year were voted on by MLS club technical staff, media and MLS players. Below is the voting breakdown:

Voting Results

Nominee
Player


Vote
Club


Vote
Media


Vote
Final
Ismail Elfath38.27%55.56%59.29%51.04%Joe Dickerson36.22%30.56%20.00%28.93%Jair Marrufo25.51%13.89%20.71%20.04%

MLS Referee of the Year Winners

• 2020: Ismail Elfath
• 2019: Allen Chapman
• 2018: Alan Kelly
• 2017: Allen Chapman
• 2016: Alan Kelly
• 2015: Alan Kelly
• 2014: Mark Geiger
• 2013: Hilario Grajeda
• 2012: Silviu Petrescu
• 2011: Mark Geiger
• 2010: Kevin Stott
• 2009: Alex Prus
• 2008: Jair Marrufo
• 2007: Brian Hall
• 2006: Brian Hall
• 2005: Brian Hall
• 2004: Abiodun Okulaja
• 2003: Brian Hall
• 2002: Kevin Terry
• 2001: Paul Tamberino
• 2000: Paul Tamberino
• 1999: Paul Tamberino
• 1998: Paul Tamberino
• 1997: Esse Baharmast