NEW YORK – Major League Soccer and the Professional Referee Organization announced Drew Fischer as the MLS Referee of the Year and Cory Richardson as MLS Assistant Referee of the Year. Fischer becomes the first referee to earn consecutive honors since Alan Kelly in 2015-16, while Richardson also wins the award for the second time.
Having debuted in August of 2012, Canadian referee Fischer has since refereed 220 MLS career games, including 20 regular-season games this season.
Fischer’s recent international achievements as a referee include taking charge of two matches at this past summer’s 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, referee, fourth official and video match official duties during the 2024 Olympic Games, the FIFA Women’s World Cup (2019 and 2023), the FIFA Club World Cup (2020,2021, and 2025) and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Cory Richardson first received the Assistant Referee of the Year award in 2021, the year he was the assistant referee for the MLS All-Star Game and AVAR for MLS Cup presented by Audi, and just 12 months after being assigned to the final as reserve assistant referee.
He made his MLS debut in May 2018 in the match between Philadelphia Union and Real Salt Lake and was promoted to the FIFA international panel four years later. In 2025, he officiated 23 regular-season games.
Richardson joins Corey Parker, Corey Rockwell, and Kermit Quisenberry in winning the award twice.
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 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 |
| 2025 | Drew Fischer | Cory Richardson |
| 2024 | Drew Fischer | Kyle Atkins |
| 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 |
