A youth football coach says his team and others may have to stop playing Sunday League games following a new ruling.

Mitchell Bonney said teams in the Medway District Youth League (MDYL) face an “uncertain future” due to new regulations which were voted for by member clubs.

The manager of Upchurch Colts Under 8s has started a petition to overturn what he has called a “disgusting” ruling which sees his team on the “verge of folding”.

But the MDYL says the rule change was “accepted by a large majority vote”.

Under the new rule, Sunday League teams can only include one player who also plays for a Junior Premier League (JPL) side. If a team features more than one JPL player they face a fine of £100.

The 36-year-old believes his eight-year-old son Finley and the other players in his team are being “victimised and bullied.”

He said: “It's not just the JPL players who are being affected but all 11 players.

“We have 5 JPL players who will be banished from the league which will see the team fold.”

Mr Bonney added: “My 16-year-old Callum, whose my assistant manager, struggles in social settings because he’s dyslexic and has autism will also suffer as he has finally found a place where he can take his mind off things.

“Years of hard work, relationships built, dedication from clubs, managers, coaches who are all grassroots volunteers and the kids themselves are being let down due to a ruling that has no place in football.

“We should be encouraging, praising, and rewarding the success of all players of all abilities and not be excluding any player for any reason.”

However, MDYL says its members want the rule change.

A spokesman said: “In compliance with SCORYs rule 9A, the rule change with the rationale as sanctioned by Kent FA was circulated to all member clubs via their respective club secretaries prior to the League AGM.

“The rule change was accepted by a large majority vote from the member clubs represented at AGM, and the MDYL management committee have no further comment.”

Annette Ricketts said her son Harley is “gutted” that he might not be able to play football with his mates because of the new ruling.

She said: “Harley just wants to play football, wherever that is, and the rule stopping him from doing so is absolutely ridiculous.”

The JPL is an independent footballing body with over 25,000 players ranging from seven to 18 years old.

The introduction of the rule in the Medway league comes after the Kent Girls & Ladies Football League (KGLFL) faced the same ruling in 2021 when a vote prevented girls from being dual-signed to clubs in the JPL.

Another parent Shane McHugh, says the new ruling “doesn’t make sense” as league teams can have up to five players also registered with academies.

He said: “My son, Finley, lives and breathes football and was given the opportunity to play football a step up but adores any sort of football he can play.

“The team were really struggling for players last season but another team folded so we were able to bring those kids into our team.

“They’re still kids who just love football.”