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LOCAL referees have taken a decision to withhold their services if they do not receive monies owed them by several associations.

According to a source, the referees took the decision at the annual general meeting of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees Association held at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, on April 9.

And they have sent a copy of that decision to Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) general secretary Justin Latapy-George.

Now they have decided not to offer their services to leagues and associations under the umbrella of the TTFA for the 2017 season which is due to kick off with the TT Pro League early next month.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday, Latapy-George said he did receive correspondence from the Referees Association and is currently seeking to quantify the monies owed before addressing the matter.

“I would have asked our head of the referees department to engage them (Referees Association) to determine what is the magnitude of that debt before we can determine any plan of action moving forward,” he said.

It is understood the referees are owed over $200,000 for match fees and travelling expenses.

The referees at their AGM viewed the non-payment of fees with grave concern and believe it shows a great disrespect to the officials.

In a strongly worded letter to the TTFA, the referees body indicated that the leagues and associations under their purview continue to request and receive service from the referees without honouring their responsibility to pay for such service promptly or within the agreed time frame.

The TTFRA stated that as a consequence, this practice results in individual referees suffering out of pocket loss which has become a burden of financially supporting football activity above and beyond officiating the match.