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JFF breaks silence on Reggae Girlz’s contract impasse

Published:Monday | October 23, 2023 | 5:09 PM
Reggae Girlz captain Khadija Shaw (centre) speaks during a team huddle ahead of an Olympic qualification tie against Canada at the National Stadium late last month.
Gladstone Taylor
Reggae Girlz captain Khadija Shaw (centre) speaks during a team huddle ahead of an Olympic qualification tie against Canada at the National Stadium late last month.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) have apportioned some of the blame for the tardiness of payment that was at the centre of the Reggae Girlz’s refusal to turn out for two Women’s Gold Cup qualification games against Panama and Guatemala on Wednesday and again on October 29 respectively.

According to a release from the JFF, the organisation had sent word to the players asking how they wanted 20 per cent of prize monies to be divided but got no response.

The release went on to say the JFF suggested a formula but also got no response.

The JFF then said it used the formula to come up with payments based on the formula.

In addition, the JFF says the 20 per cent is 20 per cent of US$1.2 million and not the US1.8 million slated to come from FIFA.

This, the JFF said, was as a result of FIFA having not yet responded to a re-imbursement claim for the other US$600,000.

According to the JFF, it cannot afford to pay out money it had yet to receive.

The JFF addressed other grievances from the Reggae Girlz, posted on the status of a number of the senior players in the just-concluded Women’s World Cup squad.

The team said in its letter to the JFF, that it was concerned about not being told who those were making up the coaching staff, with the JFF replying that this was not a requirement of their contract and could have no bearing on availability for the games.

The Girlz also voiced concerns that travel arrangements had not been tied down, but the JFF have hit back, saying that those arrangements would be honoured in accordance with signed contracts between the parties.

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