MLS’ referee lockout FINALLY ends as they agree to a new CBA with officials expected to return to league action this weekend

Major League Soccer and its referees announced a seven-year labor contract, ending a 37-day lockout that led to the use of replacement referees, as they are now expected to return to league action this weekend .

The Professional Referees Organization (PRO) and the Professional Football Referees Association (PSRA) said on Monday they had ratified an agreement reached last week that will run until January 31, 2031.

The PSRA has around 260 members.

Replacement referees were used in the first five weeks of the season, leading to some criticism.

As part of the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that will technically extend through the 2030 MLS season, referees will receive significant raises, as will video assistants and assistant referees.

In the past, referees with less than two years of experience in the league earned $50,000 in base salary. Starting this year, that salary will increase by $35,000 to a base salary of $85,000.

By 2030, referees are expected to earn $110,000.

The most experienced MLS matchday officials, meaning those who have called 200 games or more, will see their salaries increase from $108,000 to $142,000 under the new deal.

They are expected to earn more than $182,000 by the end of the seven-year term.

The ‘match fee’ paid by referees, intended for travel and accommodation, will also increase from $1,350 to $1,500.

The previous collective bargaining agreement had been in place since 2014. That season a decade ago also included MLS referees leading a lockout during the first two weeks of that season before the league and PRSA reached an agreement.

Full statement from MLS announcing the new CBA agreement on Tuesday:

‘Major League Soccer has some of the best referees in the world, and PRO’s new collective bargaining agreement with PSRA recognizes this by committing substantial resources to the referee program, an investment that ranks among the highest of any global soccer league. We are pleased that this agreement provides PRO with a strong, long-term partnership to continue developing and training referees to further improve our refereeing.

‘We thank the PRO and the referees who have worked selflessly since the start of the 2024 MLS season. Many of these referees were already moving towards becoming PRO match referees, and their participation provided important on-field experience, which will continue to benefit PRO, MLS and all other leagues in the future.

“We look forward to the PRO match officials returning this weekend and thank the MLS players, coaches and clubs for their professionalism, and our fans for their support during the first month of the season.”