MLS referees locked out by league speak out after failed contract agreement

Major League Soccer (MLS) opened its season on Feb. 21, 2024, with a 2-0 Inter Miami victory over Real Salt Lake – with replacement referees calling the game. The first full slate of matches on Feb. 24, 2024, are also set to be officiated with replacement refs.

This comes after the MLS and Professional Referee Organization (PRO) announced a lockout last weekend after failing to come to an agreement with the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

On Wednesday, PSRA referees picketed in New York City outside the MLS/PRO offices and in Dallas, where PRO was reportedly meeting with replacement refs to train them. WFAA spoke with two referees at Dallas' picket, Joe Dickerson and Allen Chapman. Chapman has been an MLS referee for over a decade, officiating two MLS Cups (2017, 2019). Dickerson has been an MLS referee since 2017, serving as the MLS All-Star Game referee in 2017 and the fourth referee for the 2022 MLS Cup.

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