IN THE face of new child protection laws, the Ernst & Young Business League will not allow under-18s to play next season. At their annual meeting on Tuesday night, the league’s clubs and representatives unanimously voted in favour of making it for adults only. This therefore sidesteps the Guernsey Football Association’s new child protection legislation brought in for the 2006-7 season.

‘It’s a struggle to find someone to qualify as a child protection officer,’ said business league president and secretary Rod Hamon.

‘We would need a child protection officer from each team. We talked about it for 20 minutes at the AGM, someone proposed that we went over-18s only and we voted unanimously in favour of it.’

However, the league will not be affected too much by the decision.

The only league team to have any juniors in their ranks is Martel’s Garden World, who have two. They also decided to go along with the change.

All the clubs in the GFA with juniors will now have to have a child-protection officer.

This involves attending a three-hour training session and having a criminal records bureau check.

‘I think it’s gone a bit over the top,’ said Hamon.

‘But it’s a sign of the times. For the amateur game, it’s a bit of a push to force people to go to meetings when they just want to play football.’

Also at the AGM, word had been going round that the business league champions Long Port were folding. They did not attend Tuesday’s meeting.

‘I honestly don’t know, I’m trying to sort it out,’ said captain Steve Brehaut.

‘We’ve got a few injuries, a couple of lads want to give the Priaulx [League] a go again and Wayne du Port has gone to Specsavers, so our numbers are depleting.

‘Having been involved in the league for a few years, I know the need to have a core of 20 to 25 players.

‘Within the next week I’ll know. It would be a shame. I want to keep it going.’