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Victor Rivas named MLS Referee of the Year, Ian McKay earns MLS Assistant Referee of the Year accolades

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NEW YORK (Thursday, November 16, 2023) – Major League Soccer and the Professional Referee Organization today announced Victor Rivas as MLS Referee of the Year and Ian McKay as MLS Assistant Referee of the Year.

  • Photo assets for the 2023 MLS Referee of the Year and 2023 MLS Assistant Referee of the Year are available here

Rivas, who made his MLS officiating debut on May 12, 2018 when Minnesota United played the San Jose Earthquakes in Week 11, has officiated 82 MLS regular-season games. He was fourth official in the 2021 MLS All-Star game in Los Angeles and is currently in his first full year on the FIFA international panel, representing PRO and U.S. Soccer at the 2023 Concacaf Men’s U-17 Championship.

Another career highlight for Rivas includes serving as a fourth official during the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Final match between the Philadelphia Union and New York City FC.

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Like Rivas, Ian McKay made his professional debut on the pitch on May 12, 2018 when the Columbus Crew faced the Chicago Fire. McKay, the 2023 MLS All-Star Game assistant referee, has officiated 103 MLS regular-season games. In 2020, he was the assistant referee during the Eastern Conference Semifinal match between Orlando City SC and the New England Revolution. McKay also served as assistant referee for the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

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:

MLS Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year Award Winners


MLS Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year Award Winners

Season

Referee of the Year

Assistant Referee of the Year

2023

Victor Rivas

Ian McKay

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