Chapman Earns Second MLS Referee of the Year Honor; Dunn Garners First Assistant Referee of the Year Accolade
October 15, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK - Major League Soccer and the Professional Referee Organization announced today that Allen Chapman has earned 2019 MLS Referee of the Year, and Brian Dunn has been named the 2019 MLS Assistant Referee of the Year. For Chapman, this is his second MLS Referee of the Year honor, while Dunn is awarded his first Assistant Referee of the Year accolade.
"I'm delighted that the consistently high levels of performance produced by both Allen Chapman and Brian Dunn throughout the season have been recognized in this way. Both are extremely talented and dedicated officials, and they are very deserving of their respective Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year honors," PRO General Manager Howard Webb said. "The outstanding work of Allen and Brian throughout 2019 is a reflection of the increasingly high standards we set each year at the Professional Referee Organization, as our talented pool of match officials continues to get stronger."
Chapman, who has refereed MLS matches since 2012, has been named the top MLS referee for the second time in three seasons after earning 2017 MLS Referee of the Year and also serving as the lead referee for the 2017 MLS Cup. Chapman becomes the fifth person to win multiple MLS Referee of the Year honors. Factoring in all PRO metrics - general performance, Key Match Incidents accuracy and Video Assistant Referee grading - Chapman's collective rank is No. 1 among all MLS referees in 2019.
Outside of MLS action this year, the 45-year-old Utah resident was the center referee during the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, won by Atlanta United. Chapman was assigned 27 matches this season (tying for the most among PRO referees) and he now has 162 MLS games in his career. Among previous assignments and accomplishments, Chapman was the lead referee at the 2017 MLS All-Star Game featuring MLS and Real Madrid, and he was a fourth official during the 2016 MLS Cup won by Seattle Sounders FC.
Dunn this year was named an assistant referee for the 2019 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target in Orlando, featuring the MLS All-Stars and Atlético Madrid. Dunn's performance evaluation figures during the 2019 MLS season ranked among the top Assistant Referees as deemed by PRO.
The 44-year-old Long Island resident also was part of the officiating crew at the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final. Dunn was assigned to 26 games during the 2019 MLS season and has now worked 135 MLS games in his career. Among other assignments, Dunn, who has been assigned MLS matches since 2012, previously served as an assistant referee during the 2015 MLS All-Star Game featuring Tottenham Hotspur.
Nominated by U.S. Soccer, the Canadian Soccer Association and the MLS Competition Committee, candidates for MLS Referee of the Year and Assistant Referee of the Year were voted on by MLS club technical staff, media and MLS players. Below is the voting breakdown for these two awards:
Referee of the Year Vote %
Allen Chapman 41.18%
Rubiel Vazquez 32.09%
Jair Marrufo 26.73%
Asst. Referee of the Year Vote %
Brian Dunn 45.21%
Logan Brown 32.54%
Brian Poeschel 22.25%
MLS Referee of the Year Winners:
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
MLS Assistant Referee of the Year Winners:
2019: Brian Dunn
2018: Joe Fletcher
2017: Corey Parker
2016: Frank Anderson
2015: Corey Parker
2014: Paul Scott
2013: Kermit Quisenberry
2012: Ian Anderson
2011: Corey Rockwell
2010: Craig Lowry
2009: Greg Barkey
2008: Kermit Quisenberry
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