The Jersey Football Association (JFA) were told the Island fails to meet the criteria for affiliation because Article 5 of the UEFA Statutes, relating to "independent states" under the United Nations, is "not satisfied".

As a result, UEFA's ruling Executive Committee refused to put forward Jersey's application to their annual Congress. 

Jersey believe, however, they have just as strong a case as the likes of new members Gibraltar and Kosovo and are testing this at sport’s highest court.

Gibraltar were admitted as full members of UEFA following an appeal to CAS.

UEFA representatives visited Jersey, a crown dependency of Britain, last month to discuss their application with the JFA. 

"This was the response we expected," Jersey FA President Phil Austin told the BBC.

"[But] from a footballing perspective we more than meet the criteria."

Austin added: “In rejecting our application, the executive of UEFA have said that they’re not putting our application forward to the Congress. 

"We don’t think the Executive have the authority to do that, we think it should go to Congress."

Jersey had submitted a bid to join UEFA in December 2015 after Gibraltar and Kosovo were admitted. 

But Gibraltar's initial application in 2007 came before the rules were changed, while Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

"I have no idea how long it's going to take, we are waiting for a court date hopefully within the next six months, but I don't know," Austin told the BBC.

"We are watching the costs very carefully and we will take it each step at a time and managed our budget accordingly.

"One or two people have stepped forward who believe in what we're doing and will help us with our funding."