The 2020 League of Ireland campaign has been thrown into yet more chaos after 23 of the 70-strong panel of officials failed their pre-season fitness test at Abbottstown.
The tests were conducted in the new Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena on Friday night.
They were full FIFA tests, used to measure the physical ability of match officials.
However an unprecedented number of officials failed to pass the test, as a growing discontentment threatened to escalate into a crisis.
On Saturday, the Elite Referees panel staged a walkout protest at their Annual Seminar at the Radisson Blu Hotel beside Dublin Airport.
The seminar is usually used to go through any rule changes and interpretations with referees and officials. It's been reduced from two days to one day because of cutbacks.
Just 50 minutes were set aside to discuss the law changes in detail.
The panel of officials are deeply unhappy with what they perceive to be a serious lack of support from the FAI.
A fitness coordinator position for referees has been vacant for some time because of cutbacks.
In the past the FAI received €100,000 from UEFA for referee development and the association were expected to match that sum, but there doesn’t appear to be any sign of that happening in the near future.
Referees currently have to buy their own gear and headsets, and must find their own shirt sponsors with no help from FAI commercial or marketing departments.
There is due to be a meeting of the referees and the league this week.
It's yet another headache for the FAI, who already have a mountain of issues to work through.
The First Division Alliance have requested a meeting with new interim CEO Gary Owens and interim deputy CEO Niall Quinn to discuss their unhappiness with the inclusion of a Shamrock Rovers B team in the second tier.
Limerick FC could yet remain in the league after they got the green light to apply for a license last Monday.
It's led to two fixtures lists being drafted - one including Limerick, one without them.
Both fixture lists include Shamrock Rovers II, but the opposition to their presence from the rest of the division remains stubbornly resolute.
The Premier Division is due to kick off in three weeks, with the First Division slated to start seven days later.
Any officials who have not passed their fitness test will not be eligible to take part in the games.
