FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The Boston Red Sox on Wednesday refused to take the field for their final spring training game in Florida and are threatening to boycott their flight to Japan for their season-opening games unless their coaches and other staff are paid for making the trip.

Fans filled the stadium, the national anthems were sung and Boston and Toronto lineups were announced, but the game did not begin at its 12:07 p.m. scheduled time because the Red Sox refused to take the field.

Manager Terry Francona and his players were upset after learning staff members are not going to get a $40,000 stipend. The Boston Herald reported players insisted part of their agreement to make the trip included the fee — for them and the coaches.

''I did not have an off day yesterday. I had the phone glued to my ear because I was promised some answers and I haven't even received a phone call,'' Francona said Wednesday morning. ''So I'm a little bit stuck. What I want to do this morning is get excited to play a baseball game and what I ended up doing is apologizing to the coaches and being humiliated.''

Daisuke Matsuzaka, who had been scheduled to pitch, left the stadium to pitch at a game against Minnesota's Triple A affiliate. He is scheduled to be the opening day starter in Tokyo next week against Oakland.

The team voted unanimously earlier in the day not to play its final spring training game or to board the plane to Japan later Wednesday.

Catcher Jason Varitek said the players thought it was necessary to take a stand on behalf of the coaches and staff.

''They're the basis of what takes care of us,'' he said.

Pitcher Curt Schilling said they learned Tuesday that the deal was not what the players and coaches thought they'd agreed to with Major League Baseball. ''I think everyone was kind of caught off guard,'' he said.

Red Sox batting coach Dave Magadan said he appreciated the support of the players.

''It means as much as the money itself,'' he told ESPN.