The Professional Referee Organization announced on Tuesday that reigning MLS Referee of the Year Alan Kelly will be the head official for the 2016 MLS Cup Final on Dec. 10, when the Seattle Sounders take on Toronto FC.
The 41-year-old Irishman officiated 23 MLS matches this season. He averaged 3.13 yellow cards and 0.13 red cards per game. Kelly has also refereed in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the UEFA Champions League, and in 2015 he refereed the NASL Championship Final.
Major League Soccer named Kelly its 2016 MLS Referee of the Year for the second consecutive season earlier this month. He made his MLS Cup Playoffs debut this year in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round.
Kelly refereed four Sounders matches in 2016: their 1-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City on March 6, their 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on May 7, their 2-0 loss to New York City FC on June 25 and their 3-1 win over the Portland Timbers on Aug. 21.
Across those four matches, Kelly issued nine total yellow cards, four to the Sounders and five to their opponents. His lone red card went against Seattle when he sent off Oniel Fisher in the 41st minute against SKC for a late challenge on Connor Hallisey.
Kelly will be joined by MLS Assistant Referee of the Year Frank Anderson on AR1 duty and Joe Fletcher as AR2. NASL Championship referee Allen Chapman will be the fourth official, while Danny Thornberry will serve as the reserve AR.
