THE Jamaican national team are on strike as they await payment for competing in the 2019 Women’s World Cup, and are refusing to participate in future tournaments until the matter is resolved.

The Reggae Girlz became the first Caribbean team to reach the World Cup this summer, and the first time Jamaica had competed in the global tournament since the men qualified for France 1998, scoring their first World Cup goal in its final group stage game in a 4-1 loss to Australia.

In May, players signed an agreement which ran until August 30 and promised backpay dating back to January — payment was due at on the 14th of every month. 

However, with players not only waiting on money owed for playing in France but the promised backdated January funds, the squad have told the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) that enough is enough and that they will not be attending any training camps or playing in any games, including the upcoming Olympic qualifying campaign at the end of the month.

The dispute became public on Monday night when midfielder Khadija Shaw posted on Instagram, under the picture “No Pay No Play,” that the team was “in a position where we we are literally fighting just to get paid by legal agreements.”

“First Caribbean team to qualify for a World Cup,” Shaw wrote. “We have made a lot of sacrifices to wear the colours of Jamaica. We have respected and worn the colours with pride. We are in a position where we we are literally fighting just to get paid by legal agreements.
 
“This ain’t just about money, it’s about change, change in the way women football is viewed, especially in Jamaica.

“We deserve more and they can do better. For this reason, I along with my teammates won’t be participating in any future tournaments until being paid.”

The team have made great strides since the JFF cut funding to its women's football team in 2010, ultimately disbanding the team.

A fundraising campaign set up by Cedella Marley — the first-born daughter of Bob — resurrected the side in 2014.

Though Jamaica lost all three of its games in France, the feat of making it to the tournament was described as “superhuman” at the time of qualification.

Defender Allyson Swaby also posted the same graphic as Shaw on her social media account, writing: “The monetary incentives can be small and are often not a reflection of the time and dedication we put into our sport. 

“We fought for change and became the first Jamaican women’s football team to sign contracts with our federation. These contracts symbolise the respect we deserve and intend to receive.”

Defender Toriana Patterson added: “I’ve been playing for Jamaica since I was 16 years old. My love for this game has grown immensely through the years. 

“I’m happiest when I’m on the field with a ball at my feet. The amount of dedication and work that I and my teammates have given to this game cannot be monetarily matched. 

“With that being said, we all signed legal agreements. Now the agreements have officially ended but we haven’t seen a single dollar. We are tired of being disrespected. We are tired of being mislead.”

The JFF claim that the players have not been paid because they are awaiting the Women’s World Cup prize money from Fifa.