The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) has overwhelmingly voted against ratifying a proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Professional Referee Organization (PRO), which employs officials for Major League Soccer (MLS). A significant 95.8% of the vote was against the agreement, leading to a likely scenario where the MLS will start its 2024 season with replacement referees. This decision comes just days before the season's kickoff on Wednesday, with PRO planning to lock out MLS officials as a result. MLS Executive Vice President Nelson Rodriguez has announced plans for replacement referees, stating that PRO's contingency plan includes utilizing experienced professional match referees supported by veteran Video Assistant Referee (VAR) officials. Among the replacement officials, notable inclusion is Mark Geiger, who will come off the bench to be a VAR for the Inter Miami-RSL game.
Major League Soccer will lock out referees after its union rejected a tentative contract, putting Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on track to open the season this week with replacement officials. https://t.co/VlokAnr7J7
Nearly 96% of unionized MLS referees voted against a bargaining agreement put forward by the Professional Referee Organization. PRO plans to lock out unionized match officials and instead begin the regular season with non-unionized replacement referees. https://t.co/azv69cL8pi
Could the MLS start their season with replacement refs? https://t.co/ZBTjOKmU9s
MLS to lock out referees. Lionel Messi’s Miami could open season with replacement officials. https://t.co/Zzt3ZKYzlc
.@MLS will lock out referees after its union rejected a tentative contract, putting the league on track to open the 2024 season with replacement officials. ⚽️ #MLS #MLSisBack https://t.co/T1XX4joeUS
FWIW: PRO is almost certainly going to send out the most experienced replacement referee crew it can scrounge up for Inter Miami-RSL. Remarkable amount of downside there if things go awry in that game. #MLS
Details on who the replacement refs will be to start MLS season with PRO/PRSA lockout/strike. Includes Mark Geiger coming off the bench to be a VAR. https://t.co/qzoCWvqcOd
MLS will use replacement referees after labor deal is rejected https://t.co/eft4q3KyIR
MLS plans to use replacement referees after labor deal between PRO and PSRA is rejected. Details … https://t.co/ovjhuS6x9X
MLS season may start with replacement refs amid labor dispute https://t.co/NEmeEchU9r https://t.co/0NPcpAu1rK
MLS referee union votes down tentative CBA, prompting lockout days before 2024 season start https://t.co/8B2SWL4dBq
Source with knowledge of PRO's plans to use replacement referees provides some background on where said referees will come from. #PSRA #MLS https://t.co/3tMFuwORGc
MLS EVP Nelson Rodiguez chiming on today's labor news re: the league's referees rejecting a proposed CBA, and PRO making plans to lock them out. https://t.co/wsCv5zxZWM
MLS executive VP Nelson Rodriguez has released the following statement in plans for replacement refs: “PRO has informed us of its contingency plan for the upcoming MLS season, which includes utilizing experienced professional match referees supported by veteran VAR officials." https://t.co/TO2TcUx7Ee
BREAKING: PRO will lock out the MLS officials after PRSA membership voted to reject their leadership's tentative agreement over a new CBA via a 95.8% "no". That means the 2024 MLS season will almost definitely start with replacement referees. w/ @MLSist https://t.co/QkVAtANYb2
MLS risks starting new season with replacement referees after officials voted to reject a new CBA ahead off kickoff https://t.co/85u1exjKoL https://t.co/CoyY7Nlr2A
Professional Soccer Referees Association rejects tentative labor agreement with Professional Referee Organization, which employs officials for MLS — 95.8 percent voted against it. Season begins Wednesday.
The Professional Soccer Referees Association has voted overwhelmingly (95.8%) to reject ratification of a proposed CBA negotiated with the Professional Referee Organization. It's now very likely that #MLS will start the season with replacement referees. Story to come.
MLS EVP of Player Strategy and Relations Todd Durbin on @tombogert's report that Inter Miami are not compliant with MLS roster regulations (deadline is the night before their opening league match, which for IMCF is on Wednesday): https://t.co/mdRdaOVG7c