Referees demand “respect, transparency, and timely payment”; Downer retorts

“[…] Referees are not asking for special treatment or all of the pie. They are asking only for what they have already earned—their just due. They believe, quite reasonably, that their contribution to the sport is worth respect, transparency, and timely payment.

“[…] It is time for the TTFA to address these issues decisively, resolve conflicts of interest, and demonstrate that referees are valued partners in the game—not an afterthought…”

The following is a Letter to the Editor by A Concerned Football Stakeholder on fees owed to Trinidad and Tobago referees, as well as a response to those concerns by Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) second vice-president and Referees Committee chair Osmond Downer:

I write to again draw public attention to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’s (TTFA) persistent failure to compensate referees for services already rendered—and to raise serious concerns about governance, accountability, and conflicts of interest within the organisation.

On 31 October 2025, referees were informed by Mr Osmond Downer that, following numerous discussions with TTFA president Kieron Edwards: “the payment of the arrears for the TTPFL’s 2023–2024 season will be done before the end of the 2025–2026 season, based on a payment plan to be devised.”

To date, we have not heard a single word about this “payment plan”. Outside of a payment for January 2026, those arrears remain unpaid and the TTPFL Tier one has been completed weeks ago.

Osmond Downer: “We cannot pay that! The Sports Company gave the Normalisation Committee money to run the league for the 2023-24 TTPFL season, which would have included money to pay referees—but they were never paid.

Not a soul raised their voice at the time to Mr [Robert] Hadad. We can’t come now in another year when that line item is not in the budget and use money allocated for something else to pay that. How can we use Fifa funds for that?

And we cannot go back to the government to ask them for the money to pay that, as that was given out already. What we are trying to do is find a sponsor or raise money to see about that.”

Concerned Stakeholder: In addition, referees have not been paid for TTPFL matches officiated between February and April, despite continuing to meet every professional obligation expected of them.

Referees are required to remain professional at all times, covering transportation costs, maintaining fitness and certification standards, and attending mandatory training. But professionalism seems to be a one‑way street. We’re held to standards, but the association isn’t.

An attempt to address these issues was made when a meeting with the TTFA President (who requested the meeting) was scheduled for Sunday 18 January 2026. Referees were formally notified on 14 January that the sole agenda item would be the matter of outstanding arrears.

Match officials logged onto the virtual platform and waited for approximately 35 minutes, only to receive a message indicating the President was experiencing technical difficulties and could not attend. The meeting was effectively abandoned.

We rearranged our lives to attend that meeting. Nobody thought it was necessary to show us the same respect.

Downer: “It was I, Mr Downer, who called for that meeting and not the president of the TTFA. At the time, the President was in Tobago and he could not get WiFi connection. That happens.”

Concerned Stakeholder: Further frustration arose in January when referees were asked to officiate TTFA Invitational National Under‑20 friendly matches, with assurances that payment would be made immediately after the games.

To date, no payments have been received, nor has any explanation been provided. Every time we’re told ‘this one will be different’—and every time it isn’t.

Downer: “The TTFA gets two tranches from Fifa in January and June, of US$650,000 per tranche. Each time, Fifa takes out US$300,000 to repay a 10-year loan that we obviously had nothing to do with. So, we have another tranche to come soon and all efforts will be made to get those paid.”

Concerned Stakeholder: Compounding these issues is the increasingly untenable position of Mr Downer, who simultaneously serves as TTFA second vice-president and chairman of the Referees Committee. This dual role raises unavoidable questions of conflict of interest and constitutional propriety.

It is unrealistic—and arguably unconstitutional—to expect one individual to fairly balance the competing interests of referees and the TTFA executive. The obvious question must be asked: who is ultimately being kept happier?

Judging by the continued neglect of referees’ welfare, it is clearly not the match officials. You cannot fight for us and answer to the same people who keep failing us.

Downer: “The chairperson for all standing committees must be members of the executive committee. This is a rule from the Fifa regulations which must be followed. The Fifa regulations for the referees committee also says all members of the referees committee must be experienced former referees; and the chairman must be a widely experienced ex-referee.

[…] When you take all of those into consideration: who else on the executive can you take to be on the referees committee? I am the only one.”

Concerned Stakeholder: Despite this neglect, referees remain one of Trinidad and Tobago football’s few consistent success stories. TTFA‑affiliated referees are keeping the country relevant on the international stage, with referees officiating at World Cups, Concacaf finals, and major regional tournaments.

These officials continue to earn respect abroad, even as national teams struggle for results.

Ironically, the only people flying the TTFA flag internationally are the same people being ignored at home.

Development initiatives and promotional broadcasts frequently emphasize growth, yet these messages lose credibility when the welfare of referees is persistently sidelined. Football cannot exist without referees. As has been repeatedly said within officiating circles: If referees don’t referee, there is no football—simple.

Referees are not asking for special treatment or “all of the pie”. They are asking only for what they have already earned—their just due. They believe, quite reasonably, that their contribution to the sport is worth respect, transparency, and timely payment.

Passion doesn’t pay bills. Respect starts with honoring commitments.

It is time for the TTFA to address these issues decisively, resolve conflicts of interest, and demonstrate that referees are valued partners in the game—not an afterthought.

Downer: The TTFA has to wait on money to pay for TTPFL expenses, which comes in tranches from the Sports Company. And the first people who have to get money is the teams to pay players—because those players have to get their salaries.

The referees in Trinidad and Tobago are not professionals and should not be depending on their referee fees to pay diapers and so on. Referees ought to be people who are above reproach, and not overconcerned with fees.

When the money comes, it should be a welcome addition to your salary.

And bear in mind that since we took office, we have paid out TT$1.6 million to referees in all local competitions. As it stands, we have only two months outstanding which is for February and March, as paysheets for April have not been processed as yet.