Kris Frick, who was slapped with a five-year international ban by the Bermuda Football Association in 2008, has had his suspension cut short and is now free to play soccer for the national team again.

Frick was banned by the BFA after he refused to play during the Digicel Caribbean Cup in the Cayman Islands in 2008. The former Somerset Trojans player incurred the wrath of the association during the trip to Cayman when he refused to play after being named as a substitute for the game against St Martin. Frick then left the Caribbean island which brought widespread condemnation from within the governing body. The then BFA president Larry Mussenden described it as "one of the most serious actions a player can do when representing Bermuda".

But yesterday a spokesman for the BFA said that the Executive Council reviewed the suspension during their meeting last week and they "were of the opinion that the suspension issued was worthy of consideration and as a result took the decision to grant Kris early reinstatement and considered the suspension as time already served."

The spokesman said: "In making this decision, the Executive Council wants to make it clear that it does not condone any acts of disrespect toward the national programme or those charged with the responsibility of overseeing the national programme and therefore encourages all players to abide by and conform to the same principles as all others involved in the national programme."

The spokesman added: "We wish to advise that Kris, as is the case for any other player, has the right to join the national programme should he be selected and wishes to do so."

At the time of the incident, BFA technical director Derek Broadley said that he, as well as a number of players and coaches, had tried to persuade Frick to come back to the team while in the Caymans. But to no avail.

Broadley said at the time that he has worked with scores of young players from his time as Academy Director of Crystal Palace in England and also with the Reading Rage in the US and that young people often make mistakes.

"What Kris did by walking out on his teammates was a cardinal sin. But it can be repaired – but it will be up to him to repair the damage," said the technical director at the time.

Earlier this week the BFA praised the achievements of Frick after the player was named soccer scholar athlete of the year by the East Coast Conference.

Frick, who has a GPA of 3.93, won the award after captaining his Pioneers side to the ECC Championship Title and an overall record of 12-5-1.