THE Jersey Football Association are unlikely to follow in Guernsey’s footsteps and snub the Rhodes NatWest Island Games.

The GFA’s council made the decision not to travel to the Greek island following fears over the safety of their players – overturning the GFA executive board’s proposal to travel.

JFA president Charlie Tostevin said: ‘Personally I’m surprised by Guernsey’s decision because I’m sure the players would love to be there.

But I can see why people are very nervous about travelling as difficulties with Rhodes have arisen on two previous occasions [in Guernsey in 2003 and in Gotland in 1999].

‘The situation with Jersey is that the JFA Council have tentatively agreed to go but a final decision has still to be made.

‘I said after the incident in Guernsey that we would have to have assurances to guarantee the safety of officials, players and spectators and that remains the same.

‘I certainly hope Jersey teams will be there.’ Six players, five from Rhodes, were sent off by referee Wendy Toms which led to the match with Guernsey being abandoned and calls for the Greeks to be thrown out of the tournament.

Rhodes subsequently withdrew its team and imposed life bans on the guilty players.