Jersey Bulls fail in points deduction appeal

Jersey Bulls had topped the table on goal difference, ahead of second-placed Redhill

Jersey Bulls have failed in their appeal against a points deduction that cost them the Combined Counties Premier South title.

The islanders were docked three points after played a suspended player in their 4-0 win over Tooting and Mitcham in late March.

The club had appealed to the Football Association (FA) to try and overturn the points deduction, but the appeal was unsuccessful.

The Combined Counties League is assessing a number of other cases of ineligible players, and as yet no dates for the play-offs have been announced.

As it stands Bulls will drop to third place in the league table, although it is understood rivals Redhill are also facing a similar charge and, if similarly punished, would fall to third with Whyteleafe winning the title.

In a statement Jersey Bulls say the FA's judgement read:

"Having played an ineligible player, League Rule 6.9 directs that the Club shall have any points gained from the match in question deducted.

"The Appeal Board concluded that there were no exceptional circumstances in this case, and that the process that had been followed was fair."

The case centred on midfielder Toby Ritzema who received 10 bookings - one coming in the FA Vase.

Bulls mistakenly counted that booking as counting towards the 10, and therefore he served a two-match ban in the league when he did not need to.

He subsequently passed the 10-booking threshold in league games, and should have been suspended for the Tooting and Mitcham win on 29 March.