IT SHOULD have been a relatively straightforward decision.

If British Virgin Islands used ineligible players in their 2-0 defeat of Bermuda in the recent Caribbean Digicel Cup match in St. Vincent, they should have been booted out of the competition. Case closed.

But inexplicably, and maybe even predictably, in the almost two weeks since that game took place, a catalogue of confusion has left both the authorities here and in the Caribbean in a state of flux.

It would appear, however, on the documented evidence seen so far that Bermuda Football Association did everything right, yet received less than satisfactory cooperation from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), organisers of the competition.

With the second round due to be played this Sunday, as of yesterday afternoon nobody seemed sure whether BVI would be expelled and Bermuda reinstated, and if so, whether the second round would go ahead as scheduled.

Last night, however, it appeared that the CFU had definitely ruled Bermuda out, citing the fact that the BFA had never lodged an official protest.

What the CFU seemed to completely ignore, though, was the fact that immediately after the game between BVI and Bermuda, a complaint was registered with the match commissioner about ineligible players in the BVI team. And it appears the match commissioner, for whatever reason, declined to mention this fact in his match report.

All along there seems to have been a breakdown in communication.

And nobody?s been left in the dark more than Bermuda national coach Kyle Lightbourne and his assistant Paul Scope who as of yesterday still had no idea whether or not to prepare a team for what would have been an important first-leg, second round match.

BFA secretary-general David Sabir wrote to the St.Vincent football federation more than a week ago asking for information, specifically on three BVI players who it was believed had previously played for St. Vincent.

Coincidentally, all three of those players had, according to Scope, ?absolute blinders? in the game against Bermuda. Venton James scored both of goals, Avondale Williams was pivotal in midfield and goalkeeper Montgomery Butler made a superb penalty stop as well as a number of other crucial saves.

But regardless of how well they played, if the trio had already represented another country in a FIFA-sanctioned tournament they had no right to be on the pitch.

Yet because the BFA declined to lodge an official protest ? they wanted to make absolutely sure the three players were ineligible before taking that decision ? the whole issue became clouded.

On the face of it, the CFU seem to have been less than honest in their dealings with the BFA.

They never produced a list of cup rules and regulations as was requested by the BFA and they have seemed determined to turn a blind eye to the fact that BVI used players who had previously represented St. Vincent in international competition.

CONCACAF president Jack Warner, no stranger to controversy, also appears to have shown precious little interest in the matter despite having been fully briefed about the BFA?s complaint.

What should have been routine research into the history of the three players named has been anything but.

St.Vincent have been less than forthcoming in providing the relevant information ? perhaps because the expulsion of BVI might have altered the make-up of the second round draw. They could have found themselves playing mighty Trinidad rather than Grenada had Bermuda topped the group.

As Bermuda?s squad haven?t trained since their return from St.Vincent two weeks? ago, some players have returned overseas and others are nursing injuries, the final outcome might be a blessing in disguise.

But the whole saga has done little to enhance the CFU?s reputation as a body capable of organising regional tournaments.

One would hope that CONCACAF, the region?s governing body, would at the very least launch an investigation into the issue of eligibility and lay down some hard and fast rules.

Hopping from one island to another seems to have become something of a popular pastime for some Caribbean players.

And in this instance Bermuda have suffered the consequences.