MLS to keep using replacement referees after league's officials and PRO fail to reach agreement in latest CBA negotiation

In their latest outing at the negotiation table, MLS and the Professional Referees Organization (PRO) did not come to terms with the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

PRO, who assign referees across the USA and Canada for MLS matches, locked out the league's referees on February 18. Since, the PSRA have been protesting outside MLS and PRO offices in New York City, while sharing details on social media of what they are asking for in their new CBA - and why MLS and PRO are opting to not agree with them.

The Athletic reported Wednesday that it had obtained a copy of an update on negotiations that was sent to it's members via email.

It read: "In joint session, PRO representatives made a long statement criticizing, among other things, your negotiating committee’s decision to send (the first tentative agreement) through ratification to allow you to vote and have your voice heard on (it.) PRO then stated they needed yet more time to consider PSRA’s proposal and would not be providing a counter-proposal during the session.”

Week two of the MLS season is now upon us, and the officials set to be used are from the youth and college levels, different levels of the USL and MLS NEXT Pro. They will be utilized on every level, from on-field referees to individuals running Video Review (VAR) and the fourth-official on the halfway line of the pitch.

The group of referees available are not trained at the highest level, MLS, and as such - the stance that PRO and MLS is taking is starting to be criticized widely across the league.

At Austin FC's home-opener against Minnesota United in matchweek one, the supporters' group of Los Verde held up a banner that read "Austin is a Union Town" while passing out homemade red cards throughout the area with a statement saying 'Bring back the real refs."

The league will have matches across Saturday and Sunday this weekend, with 14 games featuring replacement referees. Thirteen of the weekend's contests will be played on Saturday, with only one on Sunday.