Devonshire Recreation Club's acting president Janell West was informed of Kori Goddard's one-match suspension on March 4 and acknowledged receiving this information a day later.

Standing by their expulsion of Devonshire Cougars from the FA Cup final for playing Goddard in the March 9 semi-final, Bermuda Football Association (BFA) yesterday revealed that West replied to their e-mail on March 5, adding that she was the person to whom the BFA were accustomed sending information for Devonshire Rec.

In a press conference at their headquarters, BFA President Larry Mussenden officially confirmed the dismissal of Devonshire Rec's appeal of their expulsion and outlined reasons for the Appeals Committee's ruling.

The two main points surrounded West's affirmation that she received the e-mail about Goddard from the BFA and that the BFA was not required to notify clubs when one of their players has been suspended as such sanctions are automatic.

BFA General Secretary David Sabir noted that it had been a "matter of practice and courtesy" for the BFA to "remind" teams when players have attained suspensions.

"It's not expressly written in our regulations that we communicate with clubs prior to them (players) serving a one-match suspension. In football terminology `automatic' means that there is no discussion.

"Once you've achieved three cautions it's an automatic suspension. In international football an automatic suspension means exactly that - there's no room for notification and neither is there an apology for not receiving notification.

"We have undertaken the responsibility to assist our clubs with notification. However, that does not circumvent the issue of the automatic serving of a match (ban) once you attain three cautions," stressed Sabir.

Despite the furore of the past week - with Devonshire Rec officials maintaining proper procedure had not been followed in notifying them of Goddard's situation - Sabir said the BFA would continue to remind clubs of players' ineligibility.

"We must then put the onus and responsibility on team managers, executives and coaches that they must be aware at all times if their players are close to receiving three cautions or have three cautions. That means they have to have better record-keeping."

The BFA also maintained that they did properly inform Devonshire Rec, submitting evidence from their administrative assistant, Candy Ford, to show that West was listed as Devonshire Rec's "usual contact".

"On March 18, the (Appeals) Committee also heard submissions from Ms Janell West, the Acting President of the DRC, who confirmed receipt and her acknowledgement of the e-mail from Ms Ford at the BFA," said Mussenden, reading a statement.

The BFA president said that, having deliberated over all the evidence, the Appeals Committee had upheld Cougars' expulsion and dismissed the appeal. "We at the BFA feel our position is correct. We feel the right decision has been made by the Appeals tribunal and we will defend our position. We trust that Devonshire Rec have seen the merits of our case and are now satisfied that the right decision has been reached."

Mussenden said the BFA would deal with the matter via the Ministry of Sports' Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process if Devonshire Rec proceeded with that step as previously indicated. The BFA head said they would expect any arbitration hearing and outcome to be settled before the FA Cup final on April 6.

The president called on Devonshire Rec's secretary Ellsworth Christopher to apologise to the BFA's Appeals Committee for inferring impropriety by its members - Dr. Gerard Bean (chairman), Austin Woods and Elroy Ratteray - in reaching their decision.

"We are disappointed that Mr. Christopher would make such remarks and allegations which are clearly unsubstantiated and untrue . . . The BFA dealt with this matter properly.

"The Appeals tribunal was comprised of three distinguished gentlemen who I am sure must feel aggrieved by the accusations that were made against them. I would appreciate that Mr. Christopher make an apology," said Mussenden.

"This decision has been arrived at after the proper process has been followed within the constitution and the by-laws of the BFA."

Sabir refuted another of Christopher's claims Sabir refuted another of Christopher's claims that the BFA Executive was privy to the contents of Devonshire Rec's appeal while the latter did not know what was in the Executive's statement to the Appeals Committee.

Calling Christopher "grossly inaccurate" on that point, Sabir said: "We defended what we had written in correspondence to Devonshire Recreation Club. What was discussed by Devonshire Rec (at the appeal), we have no idea.

"Obviously, we would have liked to have known what was said but that is not the process and Devonshire Rec should be aware of what we said because we communicated it to them in writing."