PLAY THE ADVANTAGE

Could we be seeing World Cup referee Mark Geiger (above) in action for MLS soon?

According to an ESPN report, it’s a very strong possibility. The referees’ union, Professional Soccer Referee Association (PSRA) and MLS’ Professional Refereeing Organization (PRO), have been tied up in a labor dispute that has seen the regular refs locked out for the first two weeks of the season.

My spidey senses have been tingling on this most of the week. First, PSRA and PRO agreed to Federal mediation, which is usually a good sign.

Then, PSRA removed a damning “burn book” of replacement referees.

Finally, I would have expected to see the list of referees for this week’s matches already. The fact that I haven’t suggests that PRO isn’t sure if they’re using replacement refs for a third straight week.

All of this feels positive to me, so I have my fingers crossed. I will let you know if/when I hear something.

Read ESPN’s report here.