Devonshire Cougars' appeal against their expulsion from the FA Cup has still to be resolved.

Officials from the club met with the Bermuda Football Association's Appeals Committee yesterday afternoon after the Premier Division side were kicked out of the final for fielding an ineligible player. However, the powers that be failed to reach a decision at the end of the one-hour meeting.

The league runners-up beat First Division Prospect 5-2 in the semi-final a week last Sunday to book their place in the final against North Village.

However, it was later revealed that midfielder Kori Goddard was suspended for that match and should not have played.

Several days of discussion between BFA chiefs last week resulted in Cougars being asked to forfeit the tie, the Association saying the club had adequate notice of Goddard's suspension prior to the game taking place.

It is understood the club, who were yesterday represented by secretary Elsworth Christopher, coach Quinton Jewell and members Phillip Clarke and Mustapha Rashid, will travel to the BFA's Cedar Avenue headquarters again today in the hope of reaching a decision before tomorrow night's Friendship Trophy semi-final match between Cougars and Dandy Town.

Christopher was unwilling to speak about the meeting after leaving the BFA yesterday, saying he believed the appeals procedure should be respected. However, it is understood the impasse centres around just who the BFA notified at Cougars about Goddard's ineligibility.

BFA general secretary David Sabir did shed some light on what happened after the meeting, which was closed to the media.

"Our (the BFA's) representation was very brief as most of what we did was to confirm what was in writing (and) sent to Devonshire Recreation Club," he said. "We have no idea what was discussed with Devonshire Recreation Club and the (appeals) committee as we were not involved with the meeting during their presentation.

"We are not privy to the course of action the appeals committee will take. We are aware that no decision has been communicated to ourselves and I would suspect the same is true for Devonshire Recreation Club.

"We will await the next course of action from the appeals committee and until their decision is rendered then this matter is still under appeal."

Dr. Gerard Bean, former president of the BFA, who chaired yesterday's appeal's committee, refused to comment on what had happened and why there was no decision.

"We will continue our hearing tomorrow," he said. "I am not in a position to comment. It is still ongoing."

If the appeal is rejected then this year's FA Cup final will feature a First Division side for the first time since the 1996/97 season when Wolves played in the showpiece event.

The first Friendship Trophy semi-final takes place this evening when Boulevard take on Somerset Eagles at Devonshire Rec. The match kicks off at 9 p.m. and will be preceded by the First Division Shield semi-final between Ireland Rangers and Hamilton Parish (7 p.m.).