Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president captain Horace Burrell has agreed to meet the demands of Jamaica's Reggae Boyz, after the team refused to train yesterday and threatened not to take any further part in the Digicel Caribbean Cup (DCC) currently under way in Martinique, unless certain conditions were met.

The team were demanding US1200 per diem and 80 percent of the prize money should they go on to win the DCC. At a meeting on Saturday the Federation offered US500 but that was turned down, forcing a stand-off between themselves and the governing body.

The players represented by senior players Shavar Thomas, Luton Shelton, Rodolph Austin and Jermaine Taylor have insisted that the stance is one based on principle and not about the money.

The protest action they said, was on behalf of players who previously represented the nation and ended up with not much to show for it and younger local players who are perhaps badly in need of the income.

"We won't lace up our boots unless we get the full per diem and 80 percent of the win bonus," Thomas told members of the media, at a meeting at the team's hotel yesterday.

"We have often been playing underpaid and under compensated, travelling far and wide sometimes without per diem. None of us do this for the money," he said.

under threat

The team's participation in the tournament had been under threat from the start as the cash-strapped Federation struggled to find funds to fund the trip. However, the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) intervened and provided the JFF with $6 million, but Burrell, while thanking the SDF and the government for their intervention, explained that after having to pay for airfare, additional rooms and other expenses, enough was not left to make the US100 per diem agreed to. The President following a meeting at the hotel last night has now promised to pay the remainder from his personal funds.

"I was actually shocked when I got the news from the head of delegation that there was actually a problem. Jamaica is a poor country but a proud people, there is lot of crime and football is one of the things that leads people in another direction," Burrell told members of the media.

" If they were to drop out of the tournament it would exasperate such situations and make our people sad. I have instructed the head of delegation that from my own personal funds, I will bow to your request, for my country and I will get the money to pay the funds all of you what have requested," Burrell added.

"I am asking you all to accept my request.

I am doing this in the interest of Jamaica, if we were to strike and not play that would cause embarrassment for the country. I will not allow Jamaica's name to be dragged through the mud. It has never happened before and I will not allow it to happen. The JFF president is not a paid position, I will not subject Jamaica to embarrassment. I will not subject Jamaica to ridicule."

Burrell also advised that the players would also be paid 80 percent of whatever is earned should they win the tournament.