Later date for Junior Muratti on the cards?

Later date for Junior Muratti on the cards?

The fixture was postponed because Guernsey’s Northfield was waterlogged and all the island’s other club pitches were also unplayable. Questions have been raised about the decision to host the inter-island fixture on a club pitch that has suffered throughout this winter.

Discussions were made to play the game at Foote’s Lane, but that was deemed not possible due to a rugby match being played there the previous day. Foote’s Lane is also in use twice this week for Guernsey senior and U21 games against the RAF.

Airline regulations for the inter-island route state that transferred tickets must be used within seven days, and with no reimbursements being offered to customers the JFA have been left out of pocket.

‘There’s nothing we can do about it [losing the money] it’s down to the airline’s terms and conditions,’ said JFA chief executive officer Neville Davidson.

‘Tickets can only be used within a seven-day period, everything is cut and dried outside of that. I fully understand they are running a business. They simply won’t reimburse you but it’s money that football cannot afford to lose.

‘We [the JFA] are not the only ones to have lost out – parents were also booked up to go and see the match as well. We can’t insure ourselves either because companies do not insure against inclement weather.’

A spokesman for Blue Islands said: ‘Blue Islands supports sport across Guernsey and Jersey. Although we sympathise with the JFA, Blue Islands cannot reasonably be expected to offer refunds for circumstances so clearly out of its control. The group has been informed of this by their travel agent.

‘All inter-island services on Sunday operated on time and nothing prevented the group from travelling. Blue Islands’ terms and conditions of carriage, along with group travel terms and conditions both specifically advise customers to have travel insurance. We look forward to welcoming the JFA on board in future.’

Davidson added: ‘The JFA will be discussing what has happened … maybe it’s time to put the inter-insulars further back in the season, to be played in April and May.’

A revised date for the annual fixture has yet to be announced.

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