An 11th hour directive handed down by Bermuda Football Association (BFA) excluding all national team players from playing football this weekend has heavily affected tomorrow?s Friendship Trophy opening round fixtures.

BFA executives made the decision on Thursday not to allow any national squad players to suit up tomorrow, while affiliates were only notified of the directive by local football?s governing body yesterday.

Now, instead of a full slate of Friendship matches taking place tomorrow at various club grounds, only two fixtures will now go ahead as originally planned, confirmed BFA general secretary David Sabir last night.

?It has been decided that teams with three or more players involved in the national programme were given the option to postpone their games whilst the national team is overseas competing in the Digicel Cup Tournament,? said Sabir.

?As a result Somerset Cricket Club and Dandy Town have requested to have their games postponed.?

Trojans requested to have their clash against Boulevard postponed on account of having three of their players named in national coach Kyle Lightbourne?s travelling entourage, while Hornets have also had three of their players named in the squad which departs for St.Vincent on Monday.

It is understood both Trojans and Town have also requested to have next week?s Premier Division matches against Devonshire Cougars and Boulevard postponed for the same reason.

However, it was learned yesterday that Pembroke Hamilton Club (PHC) declined an option to postpone tomorrow?s Friendship match against Somerset Eagles at Southampton Oval and are now requesting to have next week?s league clash against Eagles postponed instead.

PHC had been hit the hardest by the association?s directive as six of the club?s players are in the Island squad heading to the Caribbean early next week and, as such, are not eligible to play any football tomorrow.

?Pembroke Hamilton Club (PHC) will play their Friendship Trophy match tomorrow (against Somerset Eagles) minus their six players however they have requested that their league match on November 28 versus Somerset Bridge Recreation Club be postponed,? Sabir confirmed.

During the BFA?s monthly meeting held on Thursday, executives discussed several scenarios that could have a detrimental impact on the national team ? the most significant of them the potential of having national squad players injured in tomorrow?s Friendship Trophy matches a day prior to the national team?s departure.

As a result, BFA executives decided all national team players will not be allowed to participate in football matches scheduled for tomorrow.

?I recognise and apologise for the lateness of this notification,? said BFA president Larry Mussenden in a written statement that was sent out to affiliates yesterday.

?These circumstances regarding changes to the team (national squad) in case of injury are something that we were recently confronted with and as such think it important to safeguard our participation in the tournament (Digicel Cup).

?Should any player suffer injury during matches on Sunday, November 21, it is impossible for any replacements to be made to the team prior to their departure on Monday.

?If we suffer any injuries our team will travel to the tournament minus any number of players that may be injured. And the executive committee decided that it must protect the team that has been selected to represent Bermuda.?