DAVE RIHOY is out of the Muratti final.

And, to make matters worse, he will also miss the first two games of the Island Games tournament in Aland.

In announcing his starting team against Jersey last night, Tony Vance dropped the bombshell that he and GFA officials learned only yesterday morning that Rihoy (pictured), sent off against Alderney in the semi-final, was automatically banned for three matches.

‘I feel sorry for him. Dave is gutted,’ said the island manager, who has drafted in North’s Glyn Dyer as his replacement.

‘Dyer comes in and it’s a case of like for like to me.’

Vance said he had known for a few days that the English FA were looking into the matter of Rihoy’s red card against the Ridunians and that, unlike in the past, Rihoy’s case was not, apparently, a matter for the local disciplinary body, who having received an appeal from the player could not meet before the end of the season.

‘We found out at the start of the week that the FA had pointed out to us that as it was [in effect] a county cup game and you get a specific number of games like they do in England. We had to appeal to the FA and they haven’t supported it – it’s a three-game ban.’