Jamaica women's team to boycott Gold Cup qualifiers

Members claim the national federation failed to fully pay players for their performance at the Women's World Cup

MIAMI:

Members of Jamaica's women's football team said Saturday they will boycott next week's Gold Cup qualifiers, citing "constant mistreatment" by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

In a statement released by several members of the Reggae Girlz squad on social media, the team said the national federation had failed to pay players in full for their performance at the FIFA Women's World Cup.

"It is with great disappointment we share that the 2023 World Cup roster will not be participating in the upcoming October international window for the first ever Women's Gold Cup qualifiers," the statement said.

"While this has been one of the hardest decisions we have had to make, we feel it is necessary to take such a drastic stance to put an end to the constant mistreatment we receive from the Jamaica Football Federation."

The players said the JFF had given the squad information about coaching, medical and equipment staff in "an untimely manner".

The squad also complained they had only learned the identity of their new coach three days before they were due to report to camp, and then only via social media.

The team also said they had not received payment of bonuses after reaching the last 16 of the World Cup, as well as bonuses for qualifying for the tournament.

"We have yet to receive full and correct payments for our historical performances at the World Cup and the numerous outstanding bonuses for qualifying in the summer of 2022," the statement said.

"We have dealt with this lack of communication, poor organization, poor management and delayed payments from the JFF time and time again.

"For these reasons we take our stance in solidarity with hope to end this cycle of mistreatment."

The Jamaicans are due to meet Panama on October 25 in Panama City before a home fixture with Guatemala four days later.