Met Police FC’s play-off fate remains up in the air as Enfield Town consider whether to appeal to the Football Association over their three-point deduction imposed by the Ryman League.
The Met finished sixth, one place outside the play-offs, when the regular season concluded last Saturday, but could leapfrog Town after they were penalised for fielding an ineligible player.
Aryan Tajbakhsh played in two games despite the fact he was banned after receiving 10 cautions at previous club, Maidenhead United.
At a hearing two days ago, Ryman League’s Board of Directors upheld the charge made by the FA Regulatory Commission on April 22, and they met again yesterday to express their regret another course of action could not be found.
In a statement they said the rule was very clear that any club found guilty of fielding an ineligible player should have the points they won in those games deducted.
Enfield however may still appeal to the Football Association as they first alerted the authorities to the issue in January having not been informed by Maidenhead.
With the possibility that the FA could still overturn the decision, it has left Met Police and the other play-off contenders – Hendon, Margate and Dulwich Hamlet – in limbo as to when the play-off semi-finals that were scheduled for this week will begin.
Met Police chairman Des Flanders said in a club statement: “It is a very unsatisfactory situation all round and we can only hope that The FA will take lessons from this situation and ensure no repeat.”
Despite not knowing whether they are playing again this season or not, Met manager Jimmy Cooper is keeping his players in training, with Flanders after compensation for whichever team is ruled out of the play-offs.
“There is a sustainable argument that at least one club has been forced into retaining their squad in playing mode with the attendant costs unnecessary and should be recompensed,” he added.
