Just when Somerset Trojans thought their season couldn't get any worse - it did!

Trojans, yet to chalk up a first league win this season, were booted out of the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player during a November 18 preliminary round cup clash against Commercial outfit Key West Rangers at Somerset Cricket Club.

Trojans won the match 2-0 but had the result overturned by Bermuda Football Association (BFA) for not adhering to bye-laws that govern "standard match day procedures".

BFA president Larry Mussenden and general secretary David Sabir both refused to comment on the issue yesterday.

Association insiders, however, confirmed that Trojans had in fact been eliminated while Somerset Cricket Club officials also remained silent yesterday with one team official telling The Royal Gazette: "Everyone has been told not to make any comments at this time."

It was revealed earlier this week that Trojans player and club president Richard Scott played in the match, with the consent of referee Anthony Francis, without a mandatory player's registration card. But, after review of the matter, the BFA deemed Scott to have been ineligible to play, although Somerset have the right to appeal the association's ruling.

"We went through the proper avenues and consulted with the ref (Francis) before the game and asked him could Richard (Scott) play because he is a registered player," Trojans coach Dennis Brown stated earlier this week.

"The referee was well aware of the situation and could've prevented Richard from playing. If he would've said otherwise then we would not have played Richard at all."

In response to Brown's claims, ref Francis said: "Match procedures are very clear on this incident."

Veteran player Scott had transferred from Trojans to Commercial outfit Somerset Extros over the summer months, but under current FA Cup rules and regulations was still ineligible to play.