Victor Rivas Named MLS Referee of the Year, Ian McKay Earns MLS Assistant Referee of the Year Accolades
November 16, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK - 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.
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
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
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