Hamilton Parish have been fined $450 by the Bermuda Football Association and deducted four points for fielding an ineligible player in successive First Division matches.

The club were handed the fine for playing midfielder Ryan Richardson twice without his identification card in the matches against Young Men’s Social Club on January 26 and St George’s last weekend. They won the first match 1-0 and lost the second 3-0.

Coach Omar Allen was held responsible for the offences and was suspended for the next two matches while Richardson is banned until further notice. The club was fined $150 for the first offence and $300 for the second, with Social Club declared the winners and awarded a 3-0 scoreline with Parish adjudged to have defaulted the match.

After the second offence against St George’s, Hamilton Parish received a one-point deduction. As a result of that deduction and Social Club being handed the 3-0 win, Parish have dropped below Social Club in the standings and are now second from bottom on six points.

Attempts to reach club officials for comments were unsuccessful yesterday, while the BFA did not comment. However, a club source explained that the issue had to do with the player’s identification card.

“We still had his card and the match commissioner said he could play. They never took his card,” the member explained. “The system needs to be tweaked a little bit; it’s not policed right.”

An individual who has acted as match commissioner explained that the player’s card must be presented at every match. “The same player who has an ID card this week may not have one next week, but just because I know he has a card doesn’t mean I should allow him to play,” they said.

“The card must be presented at every match; if not, you can’t play.”

Earlier this season Southampton Rangers were given similar sanctions by the BFA for fielding an ineligible player, Kieshon Wilson, in their 5-0 win over X-Roads on September 22. It was the club’s second offence last year after bringing on substitute Najiyah Raynor in an FA Cup match last January against St David’s which they won 4-2. Raynor was not listed on the teamsheet.

The offences brought Rangers a $300 fine for the second offence and a one-match suspension. The 3-0 score awarded to X-Roads stood, but the one-point deduction was rescinded last month after the club took their case to arbitration. They were also reinstated into the FA Cup, beating Dandy Town 2-0 in midweek to reach the quarter-finals.

n Somerset Eagles will be desperate for a win when they take on X-Roads in a Premier Division match today at White Hill Field at 3pm.

Eagles are second from bottom, four points behind Rangers, but with a game in hand.

Tomorrow, Devonshire Cougars host Rangers, Somerset welcome Robin Hood to the west end, Dandy Town take on North Village at St John’s Field and PHC meet Boulevard at PHC Field.

Devonshire Colts and Vasco, second and third, will meet in the top First Division match at Devonshire Rec while leaders St George’s play neighbours St David’s at Wellington Oval,

Wolves meet Ireland Rangers and Flanagan’s Onions host Hamilton Parish at Goose Gosling Field.

Meanwhile, league matches postponed last weekend because of the inclement weather have been rescheduled for next Sunday, FA Cup quarter-final weekend.

Dandy Town will play Somerset Eagles at St John’s Field at 3pm and Vasco will play Flanagan’s Onions at Bernard Park at 12.30pm.