Bermuda Football Association last night made an about-turn by refusing to announce decisions which have a crucial bearing on the outcome of the season.

Rulings on two abandoned games and three boycotted fixtures have already been made by the BFA, but the governing body has reneged on its promise to make them public today.

That leaves some teams going into Sunday's final scheduled round of First Division matches unaware of what they need to do, either to avoid relegation or to win a top-six spot and a place in next season's Martonmere Cup.

BFA president Neville Tyrrell told The Royal Gazette after a meeting with club officials on Tuesday night that the rulings in question would be announced today. Tyrrell added: "If we don't do it, you can lash us.'' It is understood that some clubs have put pressure on the BFA to delay the announcements, fearing that certain players could respond by refusing to turn out this weekend.

Two of the rulings involve First Division matches boycotted last week by the two clubs still battling it out to avoid the drop, Devonshire Cougars and Boulevard.

Cougars and already-relegated Hamilton Parish both refused to play their scheduled clash last Thursday and the following night Boulevard failed to show for their game against Vasco.

Second-from-bottom Cougars trail Boulevard by six points, but they could theoretically still draw level with their rivals.

Cougars would have to beat Wolves on Sunday while the Blazers lost to Dandy Town. That would narrow the gap to three points and if both clubs were ordered to fulfil their boycotted fixtures, Cougars would still be in with a chance of retaining their top-flight status.

BFA general secretary David Sabir said: "In keeping with the harmonious and positive outcome of Tuesday's special council meeting, it has been deemed appropriate for us to withold the rulings on the FA Cup, Friendship Trophy and league matches until after this weekend's series of matches.

"This is to demonstrate to the players, the fans and the club administrators that we want football's last weekend to end on as positive a note as possible.

"We want to make it absolutely clear that the association is committed to reporting on these incidents, but, at the same time, it is our responsibility to preserve the integrity and profile of the game.

"We want both players and their clubs to be given the opportunity to enjoy this, the last weekend of the 1998/99 season.'' The three other unconcluded matches all have importance to the outcome of the season.

One is the FA Cup semi-final, between Devonshire Colts and Boulevard, abandoned by referee Anthony Mouchette with Colts leading 2-0.

Mouchette's decision came after he was hit in the back by a bottle thrown by Blazers' striker Haile Outerbridge, who has been banned from soccer for 25 years by a BFA disciplinary committee.

Another is last Sunday's league fixture between Colts and Wolves, again halted early by Mouchette, because an injury left Wolves with just six players, too few for the game to be allowed to continue.

The other game in question is the Friendship Trophy semi-final between Vasco and Boulevard, boycotted last week by the Blazers. The final is scheduled for a week on Sunday.

Sabir said the rulings would be made public early next week.