The MLS runs out of referees for the start of the season – – 2024-02-20 15:19:43

Next Wednesday, Major League Soccer (MLS) is scheduled to start its season and the match that appears to open the fire is the one between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake, at the DRV PNK Stadium. However, that match is in doubt due to a referee strike, due to the refusal they received in response to a request for a salary increase.

Born in 1993, the MLS had its greatest growth in the last five years with the arrival of international figures, most of them in the epilogue of their careers, such as the Argentine star or his friends and former Barcelona teammates, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suárez. The presence of these stars in the Florida franchise and other references in several of the teams are a leap in quality to the North American league.

That is why the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) requested an increase in their salary from the Professional Referees Organization (PRO), an entity that employs referees for local competitions, including the MLS. The PSRA met to analyze the proposal made by the PRO, but due to the lack of conformity, a forceful measure was ordered.

“With the vote of 97.8 percent of eligible members, the result of the vote was a 95.8 percent ‘no’ regarding ratification of the proposed tentative agreement,” the PSRA statement explained.

“We live for this game, giving it 100 percent of our dedication, experience, fitness and ability,” said Peter Manikowski, PSRA president and chief negotiator. “The rapid growth of MLS has significantly increased the mental and physical demands on officials (referees) 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 seeing record growth, but also for the ability to take care of themselves to continue officiating at the highest level this sport demands.” The previous agreement between the PSRA and the PRO was ratified in February 2019 and expired on January 15.

The MLS, for its part, stated in a press report on its official website that earlier this week the PSRA and the PRO had achieved the largest compensation increase in history, with an overall increase of 25 percent compared to to 2023 when comparing salaries.

“It is extremely disappointing that officials voted against the tentative agreement on a new Collective Agreement reached by the Professional Soccer Referees Association and the Professional Referees Organization,” said Nelson Rodríguez, the executive vice president of Competition and Sports Products of the league.

“PRO worked for months and addressed all the issues raised by the PSRA negotiating unit. “It is also unfortunate that the PSRA rejected the PRO’s offer of a mutual no-strike, no-lockout commitment, which would have allowed all match officials to continue working during ongoing negotiations,” the MLS official added.

The league reported that, despite this conflict, they have a plan B in case they cannot count on local referees. “PRO has informed us of its contingency plan for the upcoming MLS season, which includes the use of experienced professional referees, supported by veteran VAR officials. We trust in the comprehensive plan that they have implemented,” he concluded in his statement.