A WORCESTER football team will be banned from playing any matches unless they pay two fines by tomorrow lunchtime.

Alma, who are bottom of Worcester and District Sunday League Division Four, have been suspended indefinitely by the Worcestershire Football Association for failing to cover the costs for the bookings of two players.

Kevin Bradley and Daniel Baker were both given blanket bans for not paying the £8 County FA fine for a yellow card within 14 days but the club has received the same punishment for not stepping in on their behalf.

Until the situation is resolved, the club, based at the Alma Tavern in Droitwich Road, will not be allowed to take on fifth-placed VFC Keyz on Sunday.

They would then face a further £100 penalty from the Worcester League for failing to fulfil a fixture because of disciplinary reasons.

Not paying the initial booking cost has also resulted in an automatic £20 administration fee being added to each fine.

Club secretary Stephen Simpson said the matter was being dealt with and he expected it to be resolved, with the ban being lifted, by this evening.

It is believed Alma have the funds to pay and a representative is due to meet with the Worcestershire FA today.

Worcester League secretary Graham Russell said: “The situation is that I have spoken to the club and as far as I am concerned I am waiting for the club and county FA to come back to me.

“If it’s not cleared up by noon tomorrow the club won’t play on Sunday but I expect them to be OK.”

Following cautions in a match, it is the responsibility of a player to pay his fine to the County FA within two weeks but the club can also foot the bill in the same period and be reimbursed by the player at a later date.

However, if the club does not respond to the charge in that time, they too are hit with an indefinite ban, otherwise known as a sine die suspension.