Will PSRA referees return to MLS this weekend?

The lengthy stand-off between the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) and MLS has finally reached a conclusion after a new seven-year deal was agreed on Tuesday.

PSRA officials had not overseen a single game in MLS this year due to a dispute with the Professional Referee Organization (PRO), the body that organises refereeing in the United States’ professional leagues. Replacement officials had been drafted in to take charge of all 2024 fixture but there have been numerous complaints about the less experienced referees.

The lock-out was finally brought to a close by a new Collective Bargaining Agreement struck on Tuesday. The new deal will cover seven seasons of MLS action, from 2024 to 2030. This makes it the longest agreements for match officials in league history. Referees are set to receive a healthy pay increase that reflects the league’s growing commercial power, with experienced officials seeing their salary rise from $108,000 to $142,000.

MLS executive vice president of sporting product and competition Nelson Rodriguez praised the move: “Major League Soccer has some of the best match officials in the world, and PRO’s new CBA with PSRA recognizes that by committing substantial resources to the referee program – an investment that ranks among the highest for any global soccer league.”

Who will referee in MLS this weekend?

MLS continued over the international break with a slew of fascinating matches. LAFC thrashed Nashville, Inter Miami were beaten 4-0 by the New York Red Bulls and MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew went down to Charlotte FC. With another full compliment of MLS fixtures coming up again this weekend Rodriguez was able to confirm that the regular officials will return to take charge of all games going forward.

“We look forward to having the PRO match officials return this weekend, and we thank MLS players, coaches, and clubs for their professionalism, and our fans for their support throughout the opening month of the season,” Rodriguez said.

In recent weeks confidence in the replacement officials has dipped, with a number of high-profile figures calling for a swift resolution for the referees’ strike.

Last week Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan claimed that players “want those experienced refs back” after teaMMAte Josh Atencio received a harsh red cards against the Colorado Rapids. CF Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois was unhappy with the officiating after his team’s loss to Chicago Fire, complaining that “something was taken away from my guys” by poor decision-making from the referee.