- Referees to resume MLS matches after month-long impasse ends
- Seven-year labor agreement signed between PRO and PSRA
- Higher salaries and improved conditions for MLS match officials
The league announced on Tuesday that referees will return to work this weekend following the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement that ends a month-long impasse.
According to the league, the seven-year contract between the Professional Referee Organisation (PRO) and the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) will continue until 2030, making it the most extensive labour agreement in the history of Major League Soccer (MLS) for match officials. PRSA is the labour union that advocates for the interests of MLS match referees. PRO, which was established by MLS and US Soccer in 2012 in collaboration, oversees MLS match officials.
“We look forward to the PRO match officials returning this weekend, and we appreciate the support of our fans and the professionalism of MLS players, coaches, and clubs throughout the first month of the season,” said MLS executive vice president Nelson Rodriguez in a statement.
Midway through February, following the PSRA’s rejection of a proposed new labour agreement, the PRO locked out referees before the 2024 MLS season opener, which would feature Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. At the time, the PSRA attributed the unsuccessful ratification to PRO’s compensation and benefits issues, in addition to the absence of enhancements to travel, scheduling, and other aspects of quality of life.
PSRA president and primary negotiator Peter Manikowski said in a statement announcing the lockout, “The MLS’s meteoric rise in popularity has substantially increased the mental and physical demands on officials, which has consequently increased the demands on our personal and professional time.”
During the 37-day boycott, substitute officials were enlisted from the lower divisions of US Soccer, Jamaica, Brazil, Turkey, Spain, Poland, Mexico, and Italy. In 2014, PRO and MLS referees were last separated over labour disputes; during that year, substitute officials presided over the initial fortnight of the season. Although that lockout passed with minimal complication, the initial phases of the current season have been marred by errors.
As the weeks progressed, both managers and players began to express their discontent regarding the substandard performance of the substitute officials. “Twenty-two additional minutes, an undeserved red card on the [Chicago] goalkeeper, an unwarranted corner kick for their third goal, and an offside call for their first,” CF Montréal head coach Laurent Courtois said following his team’s 4-3 loss to Chicago Fire. “Something my guys had was taken away.”
Inter Miami struck an equaliser minutes before Mark Delgado was erroneously dismissed for the LA Galaxy on the opening weekend of the season. A mistaken throw-in award by an official the following week enabled the Philadelphia Union to score against Sporting KC. “After the game, Sporting KC captain Johnny Russell remarked, “It’s so frustrating when you put in so much effort to earn that time, and then such a flagrant error costs you.” “It’s challenging. “It imparts a sour flavour to the mouth.”
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In an interview with ESPN earlier this month, PRO general manager Mark Geiger stated that the replacement referees utilised this season did not satisfy the criteria established by the unionised officials in 2023.
Referees, assistant referees, and assistant video referees will all receive raises as part of the new CBA. The Athletic reports that under the previous CBA, officials with less than two years of experience were paid $50,000 annually. That amount will increase to $85,000 as a result of the new terms. The compensation of officials with more experience will increase from $108,000 under the previous agreement to $142,000.
The salary of officials with less than two hundred games of experience will increase to $110,000 by 2030. Annually, officials who have over 200 games of experience will receive a salary of $182,000.
Manikowski said in a statement on Tuesday, “We are grateful to the hundreds of officials from the United States and Canada who stood in solidarity with us, demonstrating their professionalism and strength.” “We have collectively secured essential enhancements while showcasing the significance of having the preeminent referees in Major League Soccer oversee the proceedings.”
