MLS referee lockout ends: Why the chaos finally appears to be over - explained

MLS matches at the start of the 2024 season have gone ahead with replacement referees as the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) and the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) failed to reach an agreement. The PSRA voted to ratify a new CBA on Monday, ESPN reports, meaning the officials may be reintroduced this week.

The report claims that 72 of the 97 people eligible to vote backed the agreement. The new deal will run for seven years, finishing at the end of the 2030 season. According to The Athletic, the agreement includes significant pay rises for referees, assistant referees and video assistant referees.

Negotiations between the officials' labour union and PRO grew tense as they failed to come to terms ahead of the 2024 MLS season kicking off. PRO controversially locked referees out of MLS matches before the opening game of the season and both sides filed Unfair Labor Practices complaints with the National Labor Relations Board.

The referees may be back in action for the first time when the Philadelphia Union meet Minnesota United on Saturday. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will meet New York City FC in Florida this weekend.