A decision by the Cayman Islands to take advantage of a loophole in the regulations of soccer's ruling body FIFA could make a mockery of the region's World Cup qualifying matches.

The Cayman Islands will have five British professionals in their squad for Sunday's game against Cuba in Havana -- three of whom have never played for the country before -- after discovering a FIFA-ratified ruling that allows British players to turn out for any country that operates inside Britain's jurisdiction.

In theory, as dependent territories, both Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands, who meet the same day, could also have their pick of professionals who have not already represented England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Other dependent territories involved in the World Cup qualifiers, such as the Turks and Caicos and Anguilla, could follow suit.

Last night, however, Bermuda Football Association president Neville Tyrrell said that Bermuda would be unlikely to follow the Caymans' example, condemning the move as "not in the spirit of the game''.

But technical director Clyde Best, who yesterday was able to name Kyle Lightbourne and Shaun Goater, Bermudians who play in the English professional leagues, among his squad for Sunday, was more pragmatic, saying: "I wouldn't say no to it. If other teams are doing it, we have to keep up with them.'' Full story: Sport Page 13