MLS season 'very likely' to kick off with replacement referees

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Adam Booker·17 février 2024

MLS season 'very likely' to kick off with replacement referees

The 2024 Major League Soccer season is set to kick off with replacement referees after the latest contract proposal from the Professional Referee Organization was rejected by the Professional Soccer Referees Association.

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.
– samedi 17 février 2024

The current agreement between the PSRA and PRO had been in place since 2019, but recently expired in January. The subsequent negotiations over a new deal between the two refereeing bodies has been wholly unsuccessful up to this point.

Vidéos OneFootball

"We are bargaining for a contract with the same intensity, focus and dedication we bring to every game as highly trained officials who live for this sport”, said PSRA president Peter Manikowski.

With exactly one week until opening night of the 2024 MLS campaign, the league could be forced into using replacement referees if no agreement is made in the coming days.