Drew Fischer Named MLS Referee of the Year, Kyle Atkins Earns MLS Assistant Referee of the Year accolades

NEW YORK (Monday, October 28, 2024) – Major League Soccer and the Professional Referee Organization today announced Drew Fischer as MLS Referee of the Year and Kyle Atkins as MLS Assistant Referee of the Year.

Canadian referee Fischer made his MLS debut in August 2012 when New England Revolution hosted the New York Red Bulls and joined the FIFA international panel in 2015. The MLS All-Star Game fourth official back in 2013 and referee for the MLS All-Star Game six years later was the VAR for MLS Cup in 2020 and 2022.

This year, Fischer took charge of 16 MLS regular-season games. On October 13, 2024, he officiated his 200th game as an MLS referee when the Vancouver Whitecaps FC hosted Los Angeles FC at BC Place. Fischer was also a referee and fourth official at the 2024 Summer Olympics, adding to other recent international achievements as a video match official that include twice working the FIFA Women’s World Cup (2019 and 2023), the FIFA Club World Cup (2020 and 2021) and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Having made his MLS debut in August 2014 when Columbus Crew played Houston Dynamo FC, Atkins has officiated over 180 MLS matches. He was an assistant referee for the MLS is Back Tournament Final in 2020 and worked 19 regular-season games as an assistant referee in 2024. Atkins joined the FIFA international panel in 2018 and worked as an Assistant Referee at the FIFA U-20 World Cup and the Club World Cup, both in 2019, the Olympic Games in 2021 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He was the Offside VAR for the World Cup Final between Argentina and France.

Nominated by a selection process that included 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.

A full list of the previous award winners for both awards can be found below: