The 2024 Major League Soccer season begins Wednesday and it will likely start with replacement officials.
Saturday, the union that represents officials in the MLS, NWSL and USL, the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) rejected a new CBA that was negotiated with the Professional Referees Organization (PRO).
The PSRA said 95.8 percent of MLS officials voted to reject the proposal, adding “we will continue to bargain in good faith in the coming days and weeks, but this offer is far from an acceptable path forward.”
A tentative agreement was reached last week.
“We live for this game, giving it 100 percent of our dedication, experience, fitness and ability,” Peter Manikowski, president and lead negotiator for PSRA, said in a statement. “The skyrocketing growth of MLS has significantly increased demands on officials mentally and physically and as such has increased demands on both our professional and personal time.
“Our members are asking not only for fair compensation at a time when the league is reporting record growth, but also for the ability to take care of themselves on the road and at home to continue officiating at the highest level that this sport demands.”
The PRSA also rejected a proposal from PRO to agree not to institute a strike or lockout through the 2024 MLS Cup. Therefore, PRO will lock out officials starting tomorrow.
In a statement, MLS Executive Vice President of Sporting Product and Competition Nelson Rodriguez, said that the league was disappointed in the latest vote that rejected the proposal.
“PRO worked for months and addressed all the issues that were raised by PSRA’s bargaining unit,” Rodriguez’s statement said. “It is also unfortunate that the PSRA rejected PRO’s offer for a mutual no strike/no lockout commitment, which would have allowed all match officials to continue working during ongoing negotiations.
“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. We are confident in the comprehensive plan they have put in place.”
The season opens Wednesday with Inter Miami visiting Real Salt Lake, followed by a full weekend, Feb. 24 and 25.
The previous CBA between PSRA and PRO expired Jan. 15.
According to PRO, the proposed new five-year CBA “would have provided significantly improved pay and benefits for all officials, particularly assistant referees and video match officials.”
PRO added that it “remains committed to reaching an agreement with the PSRA”.