The referee for Saturday's MLS game between Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC was replaced by the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) after pictures emerged on social media of the original assignee, Guilherme Ceretta, wearing an Inter Miami jersey. Ceretta was replaced by Jaime Herrera, with Ivan Cid Cruz stepping in for Herrera as the fourth official and Bruno Rizo and Regis Cardoso remaining as the match's assistant referees. The pictures were first revealed by the X account @MLSRefStats.
A spokesperson for PRO, which assigns referees to officiate matches in MLS, confirmed to ESPN: "Referee Guilherme Ceretta was removed from the game due to a potential conflict." The change comes at an awkward time for PRO, which is engaged in a lockout of referees belonging to the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), the union attempting to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with PRO. In the interim, PRO has been using replacement referees pulled from other professional leagues as well as the collegiate and youth ranks. "As long as the focus stays on fighting organized labor rather than utilizing the most well-trained, experienced officials in the league, you will continue to stray from promoting the very best of the game," PSRA president Peter Manikowski said in a statement to ESPN on Saturday. "Sporting integrity provisions are in our CBA and we take them very seriously. But when the league perceives these professional officials are asking for too much, the first thing to go is the sporting integrity backstops like rigorous fitness testing, medical checks, background checking and anti-doping. Talks on a new CBA between PRO and the PSRA appear to be at a standstill. The previous CBA expired on Jan. 15, though the two sides agreed to extend the terms in a bid to continue negotiations. On Feb. 15, the PSRA membership overwhelmingly rejected a tentative agreement reached between PRO and the PSRA executive board, with 95.8% of the PSRA union membership voting against ratification. PRO responded the next day by locking out the PSRA referees. The PSRA has since offered a counter-proposal, which PRO not only rejected, but responded by saying that the terms of the tentative agreement amounted to its best offer. In a letter from PRO general manager Mark Geiger to the PSRA membership, Geiger added that if the PSRA didn't approve the terms contained in the tentative agreement by March 11, its next offer "will include less favorable terms in some areas." (Source: ESPN)
The decision to remove Ceretta de Lima, a referee with a respectable history in Brazil, raises several questions about independence and transparency in the refereeing process. While some argue that the photos alone should not be enough to question the integrity of an experienced referee, others contend that the perception of impartiality is as important as impartiality itself. In a sport where trust in refereeing is essential, MLS seems to have opted for a cautious approach to preserve the integrity of the game. Ceretta de Lima's situation also sheds light on the pressures faced by referees in an increasingly scrutinized environment. With the rise of social media and video technology, every decision by a referee is subject to meticulous and sometimes ruthless analysis. While the decision to remove Ceretta de Lima may be seen as a prudent measure to preserve the integrity of the game, it also raises concerns about the lack of clarity and consistency in referee appointment criteria. While some question why a referee with Ceretta de Lima's history and reputation would be appointed to a game involving a club he apparently admires, others argue that his competence as a referee should be the sole criterion considered. As leagues seek to preserve the integrity of the game, it is essential to ensure that referees are appointed based on their ability to make impartial and objective decisions. At the same time, it is important to recognize the pressures and challenges faced by referees in an increasingly scrutinized environment. The question remains: where to draw the line between competence and perception on the field? (Source: MLS Multiplex)