Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami are on track to start the season with a replacement official next week after Major League Soccer shut down its referee after the federation rejected a provisional contract.
The Professional Soccer Referees Association announced Saturday that 95.8% of the players voted against a tentative agreement with the Professional Referees Organization to supply match referees to MLS, NWSL and some lower leagues. According to the union, 97.8% of eligible members voted.
Their previous five-year agreement was set to expire on January 15th, with two short-term extensions ending on Monday. PRO will lock out the union on Sunday at 12:01 a.m. EST.
Mark Geiger, a former referee who took over as general manager of the PRO in February 2023, said in a statement: “We have no choice but to institute a lockout and use qualified non-bargaining officials to ensure that games can be held as scheduled. There is no choice.”
Messi and Miami play their MLS opener at home against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday.
The PSRA, which has around 260 member states, said the interim agreement lacked sufficient economic measures and quality of life improvements.
“MLS’s rapid growth has significantly increased the mental and physical demands on our employees, which in turn has increased the demands on both our professional and personal time,” Union President Peter Manikowski said in a statement. Ta. “Our members are working hard on the road and at home to not only demand fair compensation, but also to continue to coach at the highest level required of this sport, at a time when the league is reporting record growth. I also look for the ability to take care of myself.”
MLS said PRO’s proposals for wages, benefits and travel were 25% improved over last year.
PRO said the tentative five-year agreement includes guaranteed salary increases of 10-33% for referees, 75-104% for assistant referees and 15-100% for video match officials this year, as well as increased match fees. He said that Salaries and match fees would have increased by 7% in 2027 and 3% in other years.
First or business class tickets will be added for the final day of the 2028 postseason and regular season.
MLS hired a replacement official for the first two weeks of the 2014 season, after the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Authority entered negotiations and until a five-year contract was reached.
League executive vice president Nelson Rodriguez said the union rejected the no-strike, no-lockout proposal. In a statement, he said the PRO would use “experienced professional match referees supported by veteran VAR personnel”, referring to video assistant referees.
According to information provided to The Associated Press, the PRO had committed 66 personnel to work during the lockout. Of this group, 26 people could be the referee or fourth official, and six could be the referee, assistant referee or fourth official. Five could become fourth referees or video assistant referees, and 29 could become assistant referees.
Eleven of the referees have past experience at FIFA events and in tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 professional leagues.
PRO managers who have previously been VAR certified can participate in video refereeing duties.
