Major League Soccer (MLS) is facing the possibility of utilizing replacement officials for the upcoming season opener after the referees' union, the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), rejected a tentative contract proposal from the Professional Referee Organization (PRO). The rejection, with 95.8% of members voting against the agreement, has forced PRO to lock out the union as of 12:01 a.m. EST on Sunday.

With Lionel Messi's Inter Miami scheduled to kick off the season against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, the PSRA's approximately 260 members expressed concerns over the proposed economic package and quality-of-life improvements in the tentative agreement. The union president, Peter Manikowski, emphasized the increased demands placed on officials due to the growing stature of MLS and the need for fair compensation.

MLS stated that PRO's proposal included a 25% improvement in wages, benefits, and travel compared to the previous year, with guaranteed pay increases ranging from 10-33% for referees, 75-104% for assistant referees, and 15-100% for video match officials for the first year of the five-year agreement.

In response to the rejection, PRO intends to employ experienced professional match referees and veteran Video Assistant Referees (VAR) to ensure games can proceed as scheduled. The lockout situation mirrors a similar instance in 2014 when replacement officials were utilized temporarily during the league's negotiations with the referees' union.

PRO has 66 officials prepared to work during the lockout, including those with past experience at FIFA events and professional leagues. The association remains committed to maintaining officiating standards by deploying a skilled team of referees and VAR officials.

The rejection of the contract offer has prompted the utilization of replacement referees in MLS games, posing a potential challenge for the upcoming season as both parties seek to address the concerns raised during negotiations.