THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is said to be close to a resolution in the wage impasse with the Reggae Boyz. Sources told Sportsmax.TV that the parties have agreed to terms on all but one matter for a two-year deal that will include the next two CONCACAF Gold Cups, Nations League, the World Cup and international friendlies. However, they were unable to disclose what that sticking point is. In late March, prior to an international friendly against the USA in Austria, the JFF and Reggae Boyz arrived at an impasse over match fees and bonuses and what the Reggae Boyz said were issues beyond money. The Reggae Boyz initially requested match fees of US$7000 plus bonuses for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. However, the cash-strapped JFF rejected that offer and put US$2000 plus bonuses on the table, an offer the players rejected. The players also claimed that JFF needed to treat them better and with greater levels of respect.

Reggae Boyz captain Andre Blake said the players have now decided to take a stand because they believe the abuse at the hands of JFF has been going on for too long. “It’s been generation on top of generation, anybody who has played for Jamaica can attest to this,” he said.
“If we don’t put a stop to this, 20 years later, my kids’ kids or other players’ kids or public members’ kids are going to be playing for the same money and under the same poor organisation, structure and poor professionalism and poor communication and Jamaica football will never get better.”
JFF, meanwhile, was forced to constitute a squad mainly of debutants, several of whom were English-born players hoping to help Jamaica get to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, for the friendly against the USA that Jamaica lost 4-1. Reggae Boyz subsequently released a statement in which they said they were keen to finalise the negotiations with the JFF so that the coaching staff can select the best team to participate in the World Cup qualifiers that begin in less than two months,