Fans have recently clamored for radical change in the referee structure in the USA and Canada, and on Tuesday, their wish came true. MLS, US Soccer and the Canadian Soccer Association have collaborated to form the Professional Referee Organization (PRO), to manage all referees and refereeing matters for the pro leagues in the United States and Canada. Heading up the PRO is current English Premier League referee Peter Walton, a veteran of nearly 200 EPL matches since 2003. The 52-year-old will assume the new fulltime post of GM of the organization. His appointment starts on April 2 and he’ll be based in New York City throughout the MLS season. The goal is simple: to set the worldwide standard for soccer refereeing. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/03/06/new-body-formed-manage-pro-refs-north-america VID: http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/03/06/all-you-need-know-about-pro
Referees: The Commissioner indicated that the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) will be employing nine full-time MLS referees for 2013 compared to the three in years past. They will be "thinking about professional refereeing in MLS and nothing else.” http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...ioner-garber-covers-it-all-march-soccer-addre
