‘My goal is to be on the next FIFA list’ | Old Harbour’s Alexi Perry talks of referee journey

With a lifelong passion for the sport, Perry began his officiating journey in 2017 during his final year of college at the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport after being introduced to a referee training by a former referee. Starting as an assistant referee, his capability for the role quickly propelled him into the position of central referee within a year and eventually to the senior level.

“From early, I was told that the traits I possess more align with those of a central referee than being on the side line as an assistant referee so they told me that they like my physical attribute and my capabilities so I took their advice and went into the middle in 2018,” recalled Perry.

He embarked on a journey that began with schoolboy games, youth competitions, and lower levels club leagues, a standard route before matriculating to tougher challenges. His passion and dedication caught the attention of the elite referees' panel in the country, earning him an invitation to join their rank in the National Premier League. This esteemed panel handpicks the finest of referees islandwide, basing their selections on meticulous video analysis and thorough performance reviews.

Perry expresses gratitude towards his FIFA certified referee instructor Mark Sullivan, who showed great interest in his early days of training and contributes to his successful journey.

“Alexi is an awesome fellow who is doing great in the refereeing profession and I see him going places. I get to know because we are both from St. Catherine and he is a part of team in the Jamaica Football Federation. I am his instructor for years and I have watched him become one of the top referees of the country,” remarked Sullivan.

Despite his remarkable success, Perry isn’t immune to the challenges that come with officiating. In this interview with Old Harbour News, he candidly discussed the struggles he has faced, including enduring verbal abuse from spectators, the immense pressure of making split-second decisions throughout each game, and the inherent risks of just being on the football field while a game is in session.

“For every three seconds for 90 minutes, a decision has to be made by the referee and that’s for a normal game so just imagine for extra time that would require a lot more brain work and concentration for a long period of time. I often have to try and be calm in rigid situation and certain communities because if you make the wrong decision, you maybe have to be escorted out by police out of that community,” explained Perry.

Prior to his baptism into the big times, the Old Harbour native and resident was tasked to serve as a fourth official for nearly a year before being assigned to officiate a crucial "sink or swim" match between premier league powerhouses Montego Bay United and Harbour View FC, offering a test of his managerial abilities. 

“That game was tough but I managed. The journey was like a screening process, I was given fourth official work just for me to observe how the league operate, the types of players that I will be dealing with [and] the environment that I will be in. It was for me to get a feel of the league without actually refereeing in the middle,” said Perry.

In addition to his role as a referee, Perry is also a dedicated physical education teacher at Innswood High School, demonstrating his commitment to both sportsmanship and education. He had done short teaching stints at his alma mater Marlie Mount Primary and Vere Technical High schools where he dabbled a bit in coaching. But he quickly found out that making decisions from the centre of the field instead of from the sideline appealed to him more.

Perry, a past student of Old Harbour High, revealed that he had paused his teaching career following his tenure at Vere Technical High to work at Jamaica Infrastructure Operator on the toll road for approximately three to four months. However, he found the job unsuitable due to its incompatible work hours and shifts with his refereeing commitments.

“Working on the toll was not ideal for my refereeing. By the time I get off work, it was either too late to go to a game or I am too tired so it didn’t work out so I decided that I am going back in to the classroom…I think that’s where I belong because its flexible and accommodates refereeing as I am involved with sports there,” stated the Old Harbour Glades resident.

Nevertheless, he coordinates with his principal to communicate his absences from school, specifying the duration and arranging for substitutes to cover his classes.
Collington Powell, principal of the Innswood High School, expresses understanding towards Perry's time dedicated to refereeing duties, noting that it contributes positively to the school's physical education development.

“It is very demanding and it takes him from time to time outside of school which is pretty understandable as it brings with it, his own fair share of exposure to football at the highest level so from an officiating stand point, I hope that he will take some of the knowledge he would have gained to the school community and to particularly, physical education,” said Powell.

In January, Perry was fortunate to attend a referee course in Trinidad, fully sponsored by FIFA, covering airfare and accommodation at the Hylton Hotel for one week. As part of the Next Generation Program, which seeks match officials from across the Caribbean, Perry joined approximately 24 participants for intensive training, comprising morning physical sessions, followed by classroom sessions in the evenings which lasted for seven consecutive days.

“Our local body has a course call a MA [Member Association] course for only the elite referees of the country who are appointed to premier league games which is similar to the one I went to in Trinidad but this is held annually in July where we go in on dorms for a week. As a part of the group called the next generation, we are going to be a part of a competition in August in Antigua which is set by FIFA for all the different Caribbean countries to be a part of,” said Perry who has his sights firmly fixed on becoming a FIFA referee in the near future.

“My goal is to be on the next FIFA list to be given jurisdiction to be a referee anywhere in the world and I am well on my way. Based on the opportunities that I got and the games that I have been appointed to, I hope to be on the list coming January 1st because for two consecutive years I am the only non-FIFA referee to officiate in the playoff rounds of the Jamaica Premier League. All referees who have officiated in these playoffs are International FIFA referees. I am the only non-FIFA that has actually do semi-finals or third and fourth place game, only one,” he said.

As Perry continues to rise through the ranks, his story serves as an inspiration to aspiring referees everywhere, showcasing the rewards that come with perseverance, passion, and a love for the prestigious profession.