JAMAICA may not boast a professional football league or state-of-the-art facilities, but when it comes to producing elite referees the island is competing with the very best in the region.

Twenty-one match officials, including three new additions, were presented with their FIFA badges last Saturday at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) offices, in what is being hailed as a landmark moment for the organisation and its referees’ department.

Additionally, five of those officials are now fully trained Video Assistant Referees (VAR), underscoring Jamaica’s readiness to operate in the technology-driven era of the game.

Male referee Alexi Perri and assistant referees Ricton Archer and Kioney Denton are the new officials added to the panel.

For former FIFA referee and JFF Referees’ Committee member Victor Stewart, the achievement represents both personal pride and progress from a development perspective.

“Well, I am extremely elated and proud of where we are and what we would have achieved. If I reflect back to the 90s in my days as a referee, I recall being elevated to the FIFA list, and the number of us, it was under 10 at the time in totality. So, to see 21 youngsters now and to be a part of the process that got them there is really a proud moment for me,” Stewart told the Jamaica Observer.

“As I’ve said earlier, this is the highest level you can go as a match official. The next step is to operate on the world stage, but to operate on a world stage you must get the FIFA badge — and it all begins here, locally, on the grounds of our small island, Jamaica, through the Jamaica Football Federation,” he added.

JFF President Michael Ricketts believes the numbers speak volumes.

“This is absolutely positive for Jamaica’s football and its administration. We have a group of referees who would have done so very well internationally, and it’s a testament to the work of our referee department. To have had 21 referees on the FIFA panel is no ordinary achievement. In terms of numbers, we could very well be maybe third or fourth in Concacaf,” said Ricketts.

That standing is particularly noteworthy given Jamaica’s structural realities. Unlike some regional counterparts, the country does not operate a fully professional football league and cannot point to First World football infrastructure.

“We don’t have professional football here. What we are exposed to is videos from international games, FIFA teaching material, instructors like myself — I’m one of the local instruments, among many others, I can call a number of names. And to get these youngsters to love the game, love the process, to love refereeing is not the easiest of tasks because the abuse on and off the field is terrible, but what is there for them, what they are exposed to now, and the opportunity on the world stage is enough motivation. So, we are looking forward for great things for them,” Stewart shared.

The emergence of five certified VAR officials marks a strategic leap for the federation. With video technology now embedded in elite competitions worldwide, Jamaica’s investment in that area could open doors to assignments at major tournaments.

“There are three new additions to the referees list, there are five now who are fully trained to be VAR officials, so this itself is huge. And we want to stay in that trajectory where we continue to have good practising international referees, and once you improve the quality of our referees the sky is the limit and they will definitely move on to major global tournaments. It’s very encouraging, and I would like to commend all the referees and the different stakeholders,” Ricketts said.

For Stewart, the ambition stretches even further, all the way to football’s greatest stage.

“One of our ultimate aims is to see a trio from the Caribbean, with a Jamaican referee at the World Cup in the United States. And we would have had FIFA female match officials who officiated at the World Cup level, among many others, so we are looking forward for a continuation, and this is not the end of it.

“After this batch, from next year we hope to maintain the number and improve on the number while improving on the quality.”

Perry, 31, who has been officiating for nine years, says he is proud of the progress made, after first being introduced to refereeing by a friend.

“It’s a really good feeling to get to this point and to know that the hard work has paid off, to some point. This is only a stepping stone and I know I have a long way to go,” said Perry.

“I got involved when I was invited by friend. They told me about it and I found it to be interesting. I played high school football — daCosta Cup for Old Harbour High — so I was introduced to football before, and I have some football knowledge, and that helped me to progress to where I am now.”

Denton has been an assistant referee for almost nine years, and the Clarendon native says his experience has been a positive one so far.

“I got in refereeing in 2017. It’s been a good experience for me coming up from the Parish level, making it to the Premier League panel, and now being an international referee. The experience has been good,” said Denton. Meanwhile, Archer, 31, who like Perry hails from St Catherine, has eight years of experience under his belt.

“Started as a St Catherine referee, now promoted to the FIFA list, it’s a good feeling, it’s a really good feeling. It feels like the work we have been putting in throughout the years is finally being recognised — and recognition is always a good thing. This is a step in the right direction,” said Archer. “We have hopes of achieving great thigs in Concacaf and beyond.”

Female Referees

Odette Hamilton (and VAR)

Neressa Goldson

Male Referees

Steffon Dewar

Oshane Nation (and VAR)

Daneon Parchment (and VAR)

Christopher Mason

Okeito Nicholson

Alexi Perry

Female Assistant Referees

Shireen Alleyne

Stephanie Dale Yee Sing (and VAR)

Mojollee Gayle

Jassett Kerr-Wilson (and VAR)

Male Assistant Referees

Ricton Archer

Kioney Denton

Ojay Duhaney

Kemar Gayle

Melvin Reid

Ricardo McKenzie

Damian Williams

Jermaine Yee Sing

Joshua Jackson

Newly appointed FIFA Referee Ricton Archer (centre) receives his package from Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Micheal Ricketts (left) and General Secretary Gregory Daley during a badging ceremony at the JFF offices on February 14, 2026. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)