A potential strike by disgruntled referees could put a damper on the six scheduled Red Stripe Premier League games on today, but interim president of the Jamaica Football Referees Association (JFRA), Robert Lindsay, said he expects the games to be played.

The Jamaica Observer understands that the referees are once again restive over late payment of fees, which could lead to members withdrawing their services today.

“Referees don’t go on strike, we really don’t. I can go on record and say they won’t go on strike, but maybe there might be persons unavailable. But I have not had any word of that on the ground,” said Lindsay.

“I know that there [is] some amount of discontent because of the arrangement with ISSA and the Manning and daCosta Cups payments being a little bit late for referees,” he added.

“I am not sure about all the details on the elite referees regarding their payment from the PLCA (Premier League Clubs Association) or PFAJ (Professional Football Association of Jamaica), whichever of the bodies that pay them, that would have caused disquiet in that area,” Lindsay added.

The scheduled start of the season (September 3) was delayed as the referees were up in arms over approximately $4m owed to them. That was sorted out and the league actually kicked off three weeks later on September 24.

Nevertheless, there are six interesting games on today with leaders Portmore United on 34 points tackling third-placed Tivoli Gardens on 29 points in the marquee match-up at the Spanish Town Prison Oval starting at 3:00 pm.

The Shavar Thomas-coached Portmore United are red hot and hunting their fifth-consecutive win, while Tivoli Gardens are hunting their third-consecutive win, thus setting the stage for an epic battle worth going miles to see.

Portmore United have three of the top six goalscorers in Jovan East, who is joint top of the chart with nine goals. Ricardo Morris has seven and Jermie Lynch sits on six goals. The livewire Maalique Foster with three goals adds to the depth and quality of Portmore United.

Tivoli Gardens, under the tutelage of Omar Edwards, are playing some good football, winning three of their last four games. They will be looking towards top scorer Colorado Murray to add to his six goals. Junior McGregor, Tevin Shaw, Donovan Dawkins and Romaine Breakenridge will lead the Tivoli Gardens fight.

Meanwhile, champions Arnett Gardens and the improving Waterhouse FC clash at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 6:00 pm.

Arnett Gardens, still the only unbeaten team in the league after 16 games, are on 34 points, the same as leaders Portmore United, but second on goal difference. They will be looking to maintain that run.

Since the arrival of Head Coach Donovan Duckie, Waterhouse have moved away from the relegation zone and into seventh spot on 19 points, just two points adrift of a play-off spot, and they will be hoping to maintain their steady rise with a good showing against Arnett Gardens.

In other games, the University of the West Indies (UWI), in fourth spot with 24 points, take on sixth-placed Cavalier SC on 21 points at the Mona Bowl starting at 3:00 pm.

At Effortville Community Centre in Clarendon, home team Humble Lion and Montego Bay United clash in what is expected to be a bruising encounter between two hard-tackling teams. Humble Lion are sitting in ninth spot on 18 points and looking to leapfrog Montego Bay United just above in eighth place with 19 points.

Having lost five consecutive games and 11 of their 16 games, struggling Boys’ Town will be seeking to end that winless streak when they travel to Frome to play FC Reno at 3:00 pm.

Boys’ Town are rooted to the bottom of the league with just seven points, and if they are to avoid relegation this season, they must start getting some positive results. But the team has been hampered by the injury of their talisman Jameil Hardware and veteran Michael Campbell, and their struggle seems set to continue.

FC Reno are in fifth spot on 22 points and in Craig Foster, they have one of the most lethal strikers in the league. He is currently the joint top scorer with nine goals and with the expected inclusion of some of the schoolboy stars from daCosta Cup champions Rusea’s High and St Elizabeth Technical High School, the Westmoreland unit will be bubbling with confidence.

If you want to see a lot of goals, then the Compound is not the place to be as host Harbour View entertain Sandals South Coast at 7:00 pm.

Harbour View are hovering above the relegation zone in 10th spot on 17 points, while Sandals South Coast are in the danger zone in 11th place with 11 points. If the promoted Sandals are to avoid relegation in this their first season, Harbour View will be one of the teams they must beat.

A win for Sandals would take them to just three points behind Harbour View, while a defeat would see them falling nine points adrift.

Both teams have struggled to score goals with Sandals South Coast finding the net just 10 times and Harbour View 11 times in 16 games. However, it should be a good contest between two teams struggling for form.