A day before varsity football teams in Chicago are set to kick off the seventh week of the season, Friday night games are now in jeopardy.
According to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times, referees have gone on strike after not being paid for several weeks. The report noted that more than 250 referees who regularly work for Chicago Public Schools are currently on strike.
USA TODAY Sports reached out to CPS and is awaiting an official statement.
The strike has resulted in several freshman and junior varsity games being canceled. However, the strike goes beyond just football.
In the Sun Times report, one refereed noted that flag football and volleyball matches have also been canceled because of the strike.
“Varsity [football] games are in jeopardy,”
Breyion Hutchinson, a referee for Chicago Public Schools told the Sun-Times. “If the officials are not paid today, they will not work tomorrow. CPS officials can work two football games on Thursday, two games on Friday and up to three games on Saturday.
"Along with volleyball and flag football. We depend on this money for our livelihood.”
The Sun Times reported that while officials were paid directly by the schools for the first three weeks of the season, Chicago Public Schools were supposed start paying them starting the fourth week of the season. The payments from Chicago Public Schools have not been given out.
Hutchinson told the Sun Times that they met with Chicago Sports Administration two weeks ago and were told that the funds would soon be released. On Monday, the referees were told that the funds would be released that day and they weren't.
The situation has also caught the eye of some local politicians.
“Administrative problems happen,” Illinois State Representative Kam Buckner said in the statement. “Payment systems fail. Invoices get delayed. But none of those explanations can become an expectation that individual officials finance Chicago Public Schools by continuing to work week after week without being paid.
"A young person who has practiced all week should not arrive at game day and discover there is no contest because an official who worked weeks earlier is still waiting to be compensated.”
The Illinois High School Association knows of the situation and Executive Director Craig Anderson released a statement on Wednesday.
"The IHSA is aware of the current situation between Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and IHSA football officials working games for CPS," the statement reads. "Given that IHSA officials are hired as independent contractors, we have no direct involvement in this matter but are monitoring it closely. Officials have a difficult job, and at a time when it is becoming more difficult to recruit and retain officials, it is vital that they be provided the respect they deserve in every step of the process.
"We expect the situation will be remedied expeditiously so our officials are justly compensated for their work, and student-athletes do not have to miss out on any participation opportunities. We are ready and willing to be a resource in any way we can to help resolve this matter.”
Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: JSpears@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chicago-area referees go on strike, putting high school football games in jeopardy
