Bermuda Football Association were still remaining tight-lipped yesterday over what course of action, if any, they will take following allegations that Devonshire Cougars fielded an ineligible player during last Sunday's 5-2 FA Cup semi-final win over Prospect.

Three days after it was revealed that Cougars' midfielder Khari Goddard played in the match despite having been hit with a one-game suspension, local football fans remain in the dark.

History suggests that Cougars could be stripped of the victory and First Division Prospect awarded a place in the final. The BFA could also order the game to be replayed.

But when contacted yesterday, BFA general secretary David Sabir said “procedural matters” were still being dealt with while Cougars coach Albert Smith and opposing number David Furbert both declined to speak to TheRoyal Gazette.

BFA officials held an urgent meeting on Tuesday after it was learned that Goddard played during Sunday's match at Somerset Cricket Club.

It isn't known whether notice of Goddard's suspension, said to have been sent to Devonshire Recreation Club by the BFA, had reached the club's premises before Sunday's match.

Goddard is believed to have accumulated sufficient yellow cards to warrant an automatic ban.

Meanwhile, the BFA refuted claims yesterday that Dandy Town and PHC Zebras were allowed to go unpunished earlier this season after it was alleged that both of those clubs had players compete in a match while under suspension.

Last Sunday's incident was not the first of its kind to occur in the FA Cup.

PHC relinquished their right to advance to the FA Cup final against Somerset Trojans in the mid 1970s after it was discovered that they had played in the semi-final with an ineligible player.

Former Zebras coach Ed Durham said Sunday's incident involving Cougars had reopened old wounds.

“Their (Cougars) situation is a little different from ours,” Durham recalled. “We had a player (Brian Benevides) who hadn't played in enough matches to qualify for the FA Cup. But that matter was resolved straightaway - unlike this present situation. Somerset put in a protest and we just forfeited the game to them. But in this instance it seems as though someone didn't get the information until days after the game was played.”

Durham said he was in favour of having the two teams replaying the match.

“I don't see where they (Cougars) should forfeit the match. I think that they should have a replay,” he said. “I don't know all of the circumstances but it appears as though the club received the notice after the game was played. But in our situation we were notified immediately after the match and it was a proven fact. Therefore, we simply forfeited the game.”

In the event that Cougars are forced to forfeit the match to Prospect, it will mark the first time in five years that a First Division club have appeared in a FA Cup final. Wolves were the last team to achieve that feat in 1996/97.