Replacement Ref for Inter Miami Match Changed After Social Media Photos Surface
The Professional Referee Organization (PRO) has replaced referee Guiherme Ceretta with Jamie Herrera for Saturday's match between Inter Miami and Orlando City after photos of Ceretta wearing an Inter Miami kit were discovered on social media.
Referee Change Due to Social Media Photos
The Professional Referee Organization (PRO) announced a change in referee assignments for the match between Inter Miami and Orlando City. Initially, Guiherme Ceretta was listed as the center referee, but after photos of Ceretta wearing an Inter Miami kit surfaced on social media, he was replaced by Jamie Herrera.
The photos were brought to light by the Twitter account MLSRefStats. PRO made the change within hours of the photos being posted on social media, with Ivan Cid Cruz taking over as the fourth official.
In a statement to The Athletic, PRO explained that Ceretta was removed from the game due to a potential conflict. The assignments were announced in the morning, and the change was made before the match's kickoff in the afternoon.
Referee Negotiations and Replacement Officials
PRO and the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) are currently in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. However, these negotiations have yet to be resolved, and all referees for MLS matches are currently 'replacement refs'.
On Friday, MLS executives expressed their satisfaction with the performance of the replacement officials in the first week of the season. The PSRA, on the other hand, pointed out that their locked-out officials possess essential skills and experience necessary for refereeing at the professional level.
The Athletic reported that a contract offer from PRO to the PSRA remains on the table until a specific deadline. If this offer is not accepted and ratified, a new offer with less favorable terms may be presented by PRO.
Background on PRO and the PSRA
PRO is responsible for overseeing professional refereeing in the United States and Canada, including assigning referees to MLS matches. The PSRA represents the officials and was locked out by PRO on February 18 after failed labor agreement negotiations.
While negotiations are ongoing, PRO has assembled a team of replacement referees to handle MLS matches. These replacements include college and youth referees, as well as officials with experience in lower-division games.
The dispute between PRO and the PSRA continues, and the use of replacement officials continues for the time being.
