Neighbours may miss out on Guernsey 2023 men's football competition

The competition, which was last held in a Games at Gotland 2017, has been oversubscribed for its return with 19 islands having entered. The field is limited to 16.

The host island and the holders, in this case Guernsey and the Isle of Man respectively, automatically take their places in the competition, so the other 17 have have to be whittled down to 14 and it will be done via a random draw, which will take place this weekend.

‘There are arrangements being made in terms of accommodation and so on, so the sooner we know who is coming, the better,’ said Guernsey 2023 sports director Pete Vidamour.

Entries for the women’s football competition do not exceed the competition’s maximum.

Jersey Football Association chief executive David Kennedy believes the tournament would be worse off if they were not involved.

‘The Guernsey and Jersey rivalry is something that always increases excitement and with the Games so close to home, it would almost guarantee a good level of support,’ he said.

‘Previous Games have been far and wide and not necessarily easy for our home supporters to travel to.

‘We are able to see Guernsey from here, so to be excluded from the event would be bitterly disappointing.’

Despite the possibility of Jersey not being involved in the Games football, Kennedy believes that the random draw is the best solution.

He would not be in favour of a system based on meritocracy.

‘The Island Games has always been one of the most inclusive events in sport,’ he said.

‘Uefa operate on a country coefficient system, which excludes the likes of Jersey and Guernsey and that is something that we firmly disagree with, as we are very small nations in the context of football.

‘So I think changing to a system like that in the Island Games would discriminate against some of the less experienced teams, who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to compete at this level.’