February 18, (THEWILL) – The start of the 2024 Major League Soccer (MLS), season in the US could see replacement referees take charge of matches next week after talks broke down between the referees union and MLS.
The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), representing match officials, rejected a new five-year deal from the Professional Referees Organisation (PRO) which negotiates on behalf of MLS. This has resulted in referees potentially being locked out from officiating when the season starts on February 22.
With no agreement reached before the season opener between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake, MLS would be forced to hire non-union referees. 95.8% of PSRA members voted to reject the deal, feeling it fell short on pay and quality of life improvements, despite a proposed 25% salary increase.
PSRA President Peter Manikowski claimed the demands on referees have increased significantly alongside MLS’s growth. He added using inexperienced replacements would negatively impact games. However, PRO General Manager, Mark Geiger insisted qualified alternatives would officiate so matches could go ahead.
This referee pay dispute threatens to disrupt the start of MLS’s landmark 30th season. With both sides entrenched in their positions, a quick resolution seems unlikely, meaning fans should prepare for unfamiliar faces enforcing rules when matches kick off.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
