Anna Robert proudly shows off the women’s Muratti trophy which Guernsey defend at the Track on Sunday. But the big question is can the Sarnian men win back the biggest prize in CI football and our ladies win again? In the background, from left – Sam Carre, Paul Mooney, Tony Vance, Matt Warren, Colin Fallaize and Doiminic Heaume. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0764157)

MURATTI careers could be wrecked by the same English FA ruling that has sidelined Dave Rihoy from tomorrow’s final.

Had Rihoy been an Alderney player and picked up a three-match suspension, he would have faced going FOUR years without playing another Muratti as the Ridunians do not have any other county-level fixtures that could count to serving a ban.

Yesterday, the day after the bombshell news that the Bels’ forward and in some people’s eyes the best attacking player in the Channel Islands, was banned from taking his place in the Muratti, unsubstantiated rumours were rife that Jersey were behind the alert to the English FA of how the GFA were dealing with the player’s appeal to his sending off against Alderney.

Neil Laine, the GFA secretary, refused to be drawn on whether a Caesarean mole was at work, but on the question of how the GFA got wind of a possible problem with Rihoy’s availability, he said: ‘It was brought to our attention. That’s all I’ll say.’

Jersey deny any wrongdoing.

Paul Creedon, Laine’s opposite number, said they ‘categoricaly deny there is a mole in the Jersey camp.’

‘GFA secretary Neil Laine and myself were made aware of the situation at a disciplinary conference earlier this season and after we spoke about it recently he said he would seek clarification from the FA. Rules are rules and the GFA and the JFA abide by them like other counties.

‘Guernsey is a rival and a neighbour but we work together with our problems and challenges for the benefit of both islands. I agree with the sentiment; it’s not right but it’s a rule and we have to abide by it.’