MLS lockout ends
Referee pay raise reportedly secured
The MLS lockout ends its ongoing dispute with the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA). The association, which represents all professional MLS match officials, has ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, bringing an end to the lockout that forced the league to use replacement referees for the first six rounds of the season. Effective immediately, the referees will return to work this weekend.
Under the terms of the new seven-year deal, referees with less than two years of MLS experience can expect a significant salary increase. They will see their annual base pay rise from $50,000 to $85,150, which represents a 68% increase. The pay increase will be even greater for experienced referees with at least 325 matches under their belt. Referees in this category will reportedly earn $165,150 per year, which is up from $108,049.
CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ on Twitter: “The MLS referee lockout has ended as the PSRA has voted to ratify a new CBA 👍 pic.twitter.com/KMg47KkgmJ / Twitter”
The MLS referee lockout has ended as the PSRA has voted to ratify a new CBA 👍 pic.twitter.com/KMg47KkgmJ
Highest Investment?
Nelson Rodriguez, the executive vice president of Sporting Product and Competition for MLS, stated that the investment made in the league “ranks among the highest” when compared to other soccer leagues globally. During the lockout, the replacement referees were heavily criticized by players, managers, and the PSRA for multiple botched calls.
The PSRA wrote that due to these erroneous calls, “points were lost, red cards were incorrectly given while other red cards were incorrectly not given, and ‘stonewall’ penalty kick decisions were missed.” In February, the PSRA’s negotiating committee reached a tentative agreement with MLS, which the union voted overwhelmingly against. As a result, MLS had to source substitutes from various leagues worldwide and hire 18 former and current referees from U.S. Soccer, just days before the 2024 season began.
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