The Jersey Football Association were content with their CAS appeal over their UEFA membership rejection ©Jersey FA

Jersey's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against their UEFA membership rejection was presented "in the best possible light" according to the island's leading football administrator.

Phil Austin, President of the Jersey Football Association (JFA), led a delegation in Lausanne on Wednesday (June 28) to present their case to CAS after being denied membership by European football's governing body last year.

The JFA was told in October that they failed 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. 

Following the conclusion of the hearing, CAS officials now have up to three months to reach a decision.

"We're very happy that we put our case over and it was presented in the best possible light," Austin told ITV.

"The decision now rests with the panel of judges so we'll have to see what the outcome is."

If CAS rule in the JFA's favour, UEFA will be forced to add the issue to their agenda for the 2018 Congress in Slovakia's capital city Bratislava.

UEFA insists the Island fails to meet the criteria for affiliation ©Getty Images
UEFA insists the Island fails to meet the criteria for affiliation ©Getty Images

Jersey, a self-governing crown dependency of the United Kingdom between England and France, submitted a bid to join UEFA in December 2015. 

The JFA believe they have just as strong a case as the likes of Gibraltar and Kosovo did when they were allowed to become members of the continental governing body.

Gibraltar were admitted as full members of UEFA in May 2013, although they also had to make an appeal to CAS.

They had previously applied in 1999 and 2007, being rejected both times.

In their qualifying campaign for the 2016 UEFA European Championships held in France, Gibraltar finished bottom of their group which feature 2014 FIFA World Cup winners Germany, conceding 56 goals in their 10 matches and only scoring two.

Gibraltar are currently bottom of their qualifying group for next year's World Cup in Russia, having lost all six of their games so far.

Kosovo, declared independent from Serbia in February 2008, became an UEFA member last year.

They are currently bottom of their World Cup qualification group with just one point, courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Finland, from six games.