Allen Chapman is an American soccer referee who primarily officiates in Major League Soccer (MLS) under the Professional Referee Organization (PRO). Prior to his career as an official, Chapman was involved in the sport as both a player and a coach. He played professional soccer for the Arizona Sahuaros from 2000 to 2002, gaining valuable on-field experience that would later inform his refereeing career.\n\nChapman made history in August 2016 during a United Soccer League (USL) match in New Jersey, where he served as the first video assistant referee (VAR) ever used in a professional soccer match. His contributions to the game have been widely recognized, earning him the MLS Referee of the Year award in both 2017 and 2019. He was also selected as the referee for the prestigious MLS Cup matches in those same years, cementing his status as one of the league's top officials.
