SIX footballers who were banned by a local Sunday league have been given the go-ahead to get their boots on again.

The Berks & Bucks and Oxfordshire FAs ruled at a joint appeal that the 'Sunday Six' - three members of Burford United FC and three from Culham-based JET FC - can start playing this weekend.

Last season, the Autotype UTV League gave lengthy bans to 22 players and fined the clubs more than £200 apiece after they submitted a false report of a Division 2 game between the sides.

On appeal to the OFA and B&BFA, the fines were reduced and the suspensions - so the clubs believed - were lifted.

But days before the start of this season the UTV rejected registration forms from Burford's Ken Oswin, Simon Gibbs and Michael Ody, and Bob Brooks, Gary Nixon and Markus Gammelin from JET.

At the appeal, however, the UTV were instructed by the county associations to register the players with immediate effect.

"It should never have gone this far," said Burford secretary Gibbs.

"The UTV exploited the wording of the original appeal decision which said there was 'no reason why we should not send in registration forms'.

"An OFA official told me that it was never supposed to mean that the UTV could turn us down, and I assume that is why we have been let off.

"But until we receive the judgement in the post then we are just guessing. On Monday, they just told us we were free to play and not why."

Gibbs said he was looking forward to playing again - but now he is injured.

unlikely to do so this weekend.

"After all that has happened I've gone and injured my ankle," he said. "It sums up the whole thing really. "

Both the UTV League and JET FC declined to comment. The OFA were unavailable.

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