MLS referees ratify new CBA, return this weekend

The labor dispute between the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), Major League Soccer, and Pro Referee Organization (PRO) is ending. According to Pablo Mauer of The Athletic, who was the first to report the development, members of the PSRA voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement on Monday evening.

The ratification of the new CBA was confirmed by PSRA and PRO on Tuesday morning via Twitter.

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The agreement brings a welcome end to a disastrous month of tumultuous labor relations between PSRA and MLS resulting in a lockout of officials. During the lockout, MLS suffered a notable drop in quality of play on the pitch and questionable calls plagued matches as the inexperienced officials showed they weren’t ready for the challenge.

Columbus Crew fans are still washing the sour taste of Saturday’s contest in Charlotte of their collective mouths. The officiating was so bad that it coaxed Massive Report’s Patrick Murphy out of hiding to talk about what needed to be remediated for MLS to move forward as a league that claims itself as “one of the best in the world.”

Thankfully the lockout is in the past and the league, players, and fans can move on. The new CBA runs through the end of the 2030 season and includes sizable improvements in compensation for referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees. The financials that make up the deal have been broken down in a term sheet acquired by The Athletic.

Terms sheet courtesy of The Athletic

Referees with less than two years of experience in MLS are referred to as “probationary” referees under the new CBA. Under the previous labor agreement they would have collected around $50,000 in base pay. Under the new CBA, referees will enjoy a 68% increase to their salary and bring home $85,150. By the time this CBA expires in 2030, they will see wages rise to over $110,000.

The most experienced officials in MLS will also see a significant pay bump. A referee who has officiated over 200 matches used to make around $108,000 under the previous agreement. Now they see a $40,000 raise, raising their overall wage to $142,150 in 2024 and climbing to $182,470 by the end of the agreement.

Term sheet courtesy of The Athletic
Term sheet courtesy of The Athletic

It isn’t just the center official who enjoys a pay increase under this new agreement. Assistant referees (ARs), who made as little as $16,000 in base pay, receive an even larger percentage than the center officials. A full-time, non-probationary AR who has worked 100 MLS contests will see their pay increase from $19,696 in 2023 to $37,150 this season. When this CBA concludes their wages will improve to $49,684.

More perks

For their participation throughout the MLS campaign, match officials are paid a “match fee” in addition to their base compensation. Under the new agreement, the PSRA made modest gains in this area of negotiation. Referees and ARs previously made $1350 per match worked, with the new agreement that jumps to $1500. VARs and AVARs will see a similarly-sized increase by percentage.

Job security also comes along with this new agreement.

MLS referees are guaranteed a minimum of 15 match fees per year for the first time ever. This is a measure that is being installed to provide a safety blanket for officials who might have missed this payment due to injury. Under the old CBA, an injured referee would be paid for only the games they worked each year. Meaning, if you were injured early enough in the season and could not return, you would miss out entirely on that income.

The PSRA also pushed hard for changes to travel and accommodations for officials. The group made modest gains. Officials will now fly first class for MLS “Decision Day” and the MLS playoffs. They also gained small concessions for scheduling flights for regular season matches.

Rule changes forthcoming

Officials will return for Matchday 7, starting on Saturday, March 30th. With the officials returning, new competition initiatives will be introduced into MLS play.

  • Substituted players will now have to exit the field of play within 10 seconds or else the team will play a man down for the minute following.
  • Players who are injured and down on the pitch for more than 15 seconds must leave the field to receive treatment.
  • In-stadium VAR announcements will take place from the center official inside MLS stadiums. This initiative first debuted during the Women’s World Cup.

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