THERE is growing suggestion that at least one senior Muratti squad member has played unaffiliated five-a-side league football this season.
But even if he did and is shopped as a result of the ‘Hooper Affair’ it won’t lose us the Muratti – that’s of course assuming Tony Vance’s men win the final at the Track next month.
Alec Le Noury, who as president of the Guernsey Football Association for 20 years took his turn as inter-insular committee chairman on many occasions, said such rows as the Hooper one are internal affairs and nothing to do with Jersey.
Hooper’s uncle, the Vale Rec stalwart Pete Mahy, has angrily threatened to go to the Jersey Football Association with names of Guernsey players who have played illegally in the FRM Five-a-side League this season.
‘If we had won the Junior Muratti, I would have been in touch with the Jersey Football Association and if we win the Muratti [I’ll do the same]. Because there are those in the senior island who have been playing five-a-side,’ Mahy has said.
But Le Noury (pictured) is not impressed by this perceived threat to a Guernsey win and is of the view that it is groundless and inapplicable.
‘I don’t see how that’s got anything to do with the inter-insular committee.
‘If I was in the chair now that would be my decision.
‘If the rules haven’t been changed [and they have not] it has nothing to do with the inter-insular competitions.’
Le Noury added, however, that incidents of this kind are not something the GFA could turn a blind eye to.
‘If the GFA know of any senior players who are playing unaffiliated football, they should be banned.’
Mark Le Tissier, the current GFA chairman, is in America on holiday, but in a statement released yesterday sought to clarify the situation.
‘The Guernsey Football Association has investigated all allegations made to it about GFA-registered players playing unaffiliated football during the season. Two cases had been substantiated – in both cases players recommitted to their clubs but disciplinary proceedings were still brought against them.
‘The GFA categorically denies allegations that it was prepared to ‘‘turn a blind eye’’ to certain cases and that a more lenient punishment would be offered to Dave Hooper if he named other players.’
Tony Vance, the island coach, was naturally none too pleased about the thought of losing a Muratti by default – or that a Guernseyman should even contemplate attempting to cause problems in such a manner as Mahy had threatened.
‘It’s disappointing that someone wants to go to that length and undo the work we’re doing without solid facts.’
Vance said he doubted whether the rumours of senior island players playing in the unaffiliated league were true, but he’d ask them anyway.
‘I’d seriously doubt that they’d do that, to be honest.’
Article posted on 17th April, 2009 - 2.30pm
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