In the upcoming match between Inter Miami and Orlando City, an unexpected change in the referee assignment has taken place due to a potential conflict. The Professional Referee Organization (PRO) initially listed Guiherme Ceretta as the center referee for the game but has swiftly replaced him with Jamie Herrera following the emergence of social media photos.

The controversy arose when MLSRefStats, an account on Twitter, unveiled several pictures of Ceretta donning an Inter Miami kit. This prompted PRO to react promptly by replacing Ceretta with Herrera, who was originally designated as the fourth official. Ivan Cid Cruz has now assumed the role of the fourth official for the match.

PRO released a statement to The Athletic, stating that Ceretta was removed from the game due to the potential conflict. The change in the referee assignment was swift, with Herrera officially taking Ceretta's place within hours of the photos surfacing. The altered assignments were announced at 9 a.m. ET, and the change was made by 11:45 a.m. ET. The match between Miami and Orlando is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET.

It is worth noting that all referees in the current season are considered "replacement refs" as PRO and the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) have not reached a new collective bargaining agreement. The negotiations between PRO and PSRA have been contentious, leading to the use of replacement referees who are not affiliated with the typical MLS refs represented by PSRA.

In response to the performance of the replacement officials in the first week of the season, MLS executives expressed satisfaction and sent a memo to the league's board of governors. The memo highlighted positive internal metrics, including increased usage of VAR and improved pace-of-play measures. However, the PSRA countered by emphasizing the importance of experience-guided situational awareness, rule knowledge, and effective communication, which they believe the locked-out officials possess at the highest level.

Meanwhile, PRO has notified the PSRA that a previous contract offer to the officials will remain on the table until midnight on Monday, March 11. Multiple sources briefed on the negotiations suggest that if the offer is not accepted and ratified, the next proposal from PRO to the PSRA will include less favorable terms in certain areas.

As the game between Inter Miami and Orlando City approaches, the focus will not only be on the players but also on the replacement referees who will officiate the match. The ongoing dispute between PRO and PSRA continues to cast a shadow over the officiating situation in MLS, as the negotiation impasse affects the league's refereeing structure.