Top MLS referees to return after deal reached

New York: Major League Soccer will have its top referees back on the field this weekend after a deal was reached between the referees` union and the governing group for MLS officials.

The five-year contract announced Thursday by the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) with the Professional Soccer Referees Association ends a money standoff that saw replacement referees pushed into duty over the first two weeks of the North American league`s 19th season. "We are looking forward to having our referees back on the field and officiating games," PRO general manager Peter Walton said. "The new agreement will provide important benefits to our referees while ensuring that PRO will be able to achieve its goal of developing and employing world-class referees for the competitions we serve." The union said assistance from federal mediators was required to strike a deal and end the impasse. "We are happy to have our regular referees back on the field for this weekend`s games," said MLS commissioner Don Garber.