Otjozondjupa second division referees have decided not to officiate the games that were scheduled to be played this weekend due to outstanding payments.
In a letter issued on Saturday, Otjozondjupa Football League chairperson PN Khairabeb says the scheduled matches for rounds nine and ten have been postponed until further notice due to the referees not being paid.
“The decision has been taken as referees are unavailable to officiate matches under the current circumstances,” the notice says.
The postponement comes after referees escalated a dispute over unpaid match fees from January to March.
The referees say they will not travel or officiate matches until they are paid.
In a letter addressed to the National Referees Committee dated 7 April, the referees demanded the immediate settlement of outstanding fees.
The letter says the delay in payment is straining them financially.
The referees said if payments were not made by 10 April, they would withdraw their services for all fixtures, insisting on full settlement of match fees as well as travel and meal allowances.
In response, the Namibia Football Association has said the delays were due to cash-flow challenges.
The NFA said referees continue to receive weekly support for meals, transport, and accommodation costs, ranging from N$80 000 to N$100 000, and appealed for patience while outstanding payments were being processed.
Despite this, referees maintained their “no money, no games” position, requiring full payment before match participation.
This has disrupted league fixtures in the Otjozondjupa second division.
