The scheduled start of the much-anticipated 2017-18 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) could be delayed as the referees are up in arms over approximately $4m owed and have withdrew their services.

The RSPL — the top football league in the country — is scheduled to start on Sunday with four games and a double header inside the National Stadium on Monday. But the Jamaica Observer has learnt that the Jamaica Football Referees Association (JFRA) has lost patience with the organisers and will be withdrawing their services until they are paid.

Efforts to get a comment from JFRA president Franklyn Brown proved futile as his cellular phone went unanswered for the last few days.

However, anonymous sources inside his organisation revealed that the referees are fed up with the manner in which they are being treated by Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA).

“The people them don’t care, they don’t really business. They always shell out (pay) other bills and they don’t deal with the people them (referees),” revealed the source.

“They (referees) get appointment for the games and everybody turn it down,” the source noted.

“Unless something miraculous happens in terms of a substantial payment nothing nah go gwaan,” he promised.

The Professional Football Association of Jamaica (PFAJ) is responsible for the administration of the premier league while the PLCA is responsible for marketing and raising money.

Carvel Stewart, vice chairman of the PLCA, told the Observer that it’s a combination of both bodies as the PLCA is responsible for raising the money and handing it over to the PFAJ, who in turn pays the bills.

However, Stewart made it be clear that the PLCA is working feverishly to find the cash to pay the referees to avert the possible strike action this weekend.

“They say they are not working until the have an agreement and an agreement should be had. Now, if we had been told that they PFAJ couldn’t make an agreement with the referees we would have made the agreement. But it’s not up to us to make the agreement,” Stewart pointed out.

“But we are making an effort to get it sorted out in time,” he added.

Meanwhile, former champions Montego Bay United, who have been engaged in a long-standing dispute with the PLCA for monies owed, have threatened to boycott their fixture against Harbour View on Sunday.

The St James outfit is said to be owed millions of dollars after the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) ruled in their favour that they should be readmitted to the PLCA and unpaid moneies turned over to them.

Last season, Montego Bay United broke away from the PLCA and withdrew their membership and thus, received no further payment from the organisers.

After a change of heart, Montego Bay United were readmitted and outstanding retroactive payment was ordered by the JFF.

But that payment, according to Montego Bay United, has not yet been paid, hence their threat not to honour Sunday’s opening fixture at the Compound.