'Pay the refs!' - Protests break out in New York City as MLS officials strike - while league goes forward with 'replacement' plan for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami's opener

The Professional Referees Organization (PRO) and Professional Soccer Referees Association (PRSA) failed to agree a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) ahead of the 2024 season, and now, as a result, PRO has locked the PSRA out.

Now, on Wednesday outside PRO headquarters in NYC, members of the PSRA, their families and friends, as well as bystanders and MLS fans, joined together in protest over their current no-agreement of a new CBA.

MLS has announced a plan to insert replacement referees in the meantime, while the 240+ members of the PSRA strike. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami's home opener for 2024 Wednesday evening against Real Salt Lake will - as a result - consist entirely of officials who have never refereed at the U.S. Soccer division-1 level.

The three on-field officials being brought in are from USL League One, MLS NEXT Pro and the USL Championship.

In previous statements made from all parties involved - MLS, PRO and the PSRA - it's been revealed that nobody is currently seeing eye-to-eye regarding a new CBA. As a result, criticism from around the footballing world has arrived. Former Premier League player Nigel Reo-Coker dubbed it "embarrassing" for MLS and a move that will hurt the league's image.

The PSRA took things further in their protest Wednesday, by supplying a blow-up pig seated on top of an SUV to sit outside the PRO offices. The pig, dressed in a tuxedo , is smoking a cigar and holding a bag of money in one hand, and a PSRA official in the other.

Until a new CBA is agreed on with all parties involved, MLS will continue to use replacement referees. As for MLS matches, Inter Miami take on Real Salt Lake Wednesday evening in the 2024 league-wide opener.