A referees’ strike for the J$8 million owed by organisers has brought the Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) to a standstill, as the seven scheduled games for early this week were cancelled.

However, Our Today has learnt that a payment of J$2 million was deposited on Tuesday (March 4) but the referees will not budge until all of the monies owed is paid.

Emergency negotiations between the Jamaica Football Referees Association (JFRA), which represents the referees, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), and the Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) have been ongoing since last Friday.

The strike comes after reports that the referees have not been compensated and to make matters worse, their concerns via emails were not responded to, hence, they were forced into action.

Valdin Legister, president of the Jamaica Football Referees Association (JFRA), was very disappointed by the lack of communication and mistreatment that forced them into action.

“Efforts were made to get paid, e-mails were sent, but there were no response to the e-mails, so that’s what caused the issue,” Legister was quoted as saying.

“Bigger than the payment, it’s the disregard that has been shown to the referees over the years, so referees have been asked to go into their pockets to subsidise servicing the league, and it can’t continue,” he added.