Allen Chapman, the MLS Referee of the Year, has been announced as the center ref for the MLS Cup Final. Chapman has had most of the playoffs off, only being on the field for the Atlanta United - Columbus Crew match in the knockout round. Chapman was also the VAR twice during the conference semifinals.
Chapman’s assistants will be the second- and third-place finishers in MLS Assistant Referee of the Year voting, Adam Wienckowski and Jeremy Hanson. Wienckowski has only officiated one playoff match this season, the Vancouver knockout round game, while Hanson was in Atlanta as part of Chapman’s crew and then again in the crazy Toronto - Red Bulls match that saw Sacha Kljestan and Jozy Altidore sent off.