JFF commits to honouring Reggae Girlz contract

Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) general secretary Dennis Chung has committed to the island's national senior women's footballers getting their due in the wake of FIFA providing no guarantee that member federations will disperse the US$30,000 (J$4.6 million) payments for each player.

The money is part of the revamped financial package for the Women's World Cup. Chung commented as FIFA president Gianni Infantino recently outlined that it will be up to member federations to make the payments, which were approved this year.

The package includes a minimum U$30,000 payment for each player, with the value rising depending on how far teams advance in the World Cup. The winners are guaranteed $US270,000 ($J41.6 million) for each player.

Infantino said at Wednesday's pre-tournament press conference that complications regarding residency and taxation would be best handled by federations.

"Whatever payments we do, we will go through the associations, and then the associations will make the relevant payments to their own players. We are in touch with all of the federations," Infantino said.

In a RadioJamaica Sports interview, Chung said the JFF has a binding agreement with the Reggae Girlz and will ensure they are compensated accordingly.

"We have a contract with the players, and we will ensure that players are paid everything due to do them under our contract," Chung said.

The Reggae Girlz, however, voiced concerns in June during their final local camp regarding payments not being made in a letter posted by several players on social media. It was among the issues raised, which included insufficient practice games in their preparation for the tournament.

The Reggae Girlz will open their campaign against France on Sunday at 5 a.m. Jamaica time, in Sydney.