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JPL quarter-finals rescheduled due to inadequate lighting
May 09, 2025
The Jamaica Premier League (JPL) quarter-final fixtures have been rescheduled for today after inadequate lighting at Sabina Park last night saw both games being called off by the referees.
The first round in the JPL playoffs will see Montego Bay United taking on Tivoli Gardens, while defending champions Cavalier face off against Portmore United.
The first match of the doubleheader had kicked off on schedule on Thursday, as MoBay United and Tivoli took to the field. However, the match was called off in the 35th minute as the referee raised visibility concerns, as half of the stadium floodlights did not turn on.
Fans and players alike were left waiting for over an hour before and at 8 p.m., the announcement came that the match would be rescheduled.
The second match of the doubleheader, Cavalier against Portmore United, was still set to kick off at the scheduled time of 8:30 p.m.
Those hopes were dashed as by 8:45 p.m., the lights had yet to turn on and the decision was made to postpone both games.
Owen Hill, CEO of Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL), said while the challenges came at the most inopportune time, he was pleased by the decision made by all the parties involved to reschedule both games.
"We had a challenge that caused us to be in a little bit of a pickle, but there was a decision that was made collectively," he said.
"The reschedule is based on the collective agreement starting from the match commissioners making a decision, the referees would have highlighted what their concerns were and the teams also highlighted their concerns; so it was a collective decision."
Hill explained today's schedule will see the match between Montego Bay and Tivoli Gardens resume at 6 p.m. at Sabina Park, before Cavalier and Portmore take to the field at 8 p.m.
CALLING FOR FANS
He also made an appeal to the fans to show their support for the teams by coming out once again despite the unexpected scheduling.
He said an emergency meeting will be held by the PFJL to decide how admission will be handled, but said he expects it will be a fair resolution for the fans.
"We are where we are and in terms of admission for tomorrow. I'd probably not jump the gun and state that but definitely there is an emergency meeting that will happen right after and all the communications will be carried very early," he explained.
"We love the fans and we want them to always be in support of the teams because the teams thrive based on the fans' support."
