A decision made by Durham Football Association chiefs has sparked outrage in a local league who say it sets a 'monumental precedent'.

The Durham FA overturned the Spennymoor Sunday League's decision to dock a club points for fielding an unregistered player, but the League say they were merely applying the letter of the law and now a long-standing committee member has quit over the row.

The Spennymoor League punished First Division side Salvins for submitting a team sheet that contained a player who was not registered with the club.

Aggrieved at the decision, the Spennymoor-based side appealed to Durham FA and the decision has now been overturned after the committee accepted that Savlins had accidentally printed the 'wrong' surname on the team sheet, and ordered the league to withdraw the three-point deduction and fine.

The Spennymoor League fear the Durham FA's decision will have major repercussions for local leagues while registration secretary, Tommy Lye, has quit.

The League says the decision could trigger a flood of appeals by local clubs with similar excuses - and Durham FA's precedent could spell curtains in administration terms.

A Spennymoor League spokesman said: "We are, of course, disappointed with the decision, but we have to abide by Durham FA and we accept their course of action."

Durham FA secretary, John Topping, denied the decision would cause problems in future appeals and said: "The club exercised their right to an appeal and took their case to their local football association. On the evidence heard that night the committee made the decision that they did.

"It does not set a precedent because in appeals every club has its case dealt with on it's own merits."

The League held an extraordinary meeting to address the crisis after Lye's resignation. Secretary Mike Hill also resigned, but was talked into withdrawing it temporarily. Hill received unanimous and overwhelming backing from league members and Durham FA representatives Tommy Waggott and John Priestly, who both gave their backing to the league committee and apologised on behalf of the FA.