forward to a resumption of play this weekend.

The refs' boycott finally ended last night when Bermuda Football Association, Bermuda Referees Association and club affiliates reached an agreement at a special BFA general meeting.

All five recommendations made by the BRA and presented to affiliates last night were accepted, and as such soccer this weekend was given the green light.

BFA president Neville Tyrrell said: "We can happily advise the public that soccer will resume this weekend with the normal full slate of matches, which is news that we know everybody will accept with glee.'' The BRA handed their recommendations to the BFA, most of which concerned security of their officials, and club affiliates had no qualms about accepting all of them.

According to Tyrrell, response from the floor was positive and not one item caused any of the clubs to voice concern.

"The recommendations that were presented by the referees were put to the affiliates this evening with some slight modification to one, but they were accepted unanimously which means that football is back on track with effect from this weekend,'' said the president.

"I think Mr. Earl Hart, one of our directors, also expressed my sentiments by pointing out the fact that the absence of football was not right. We need to have football going on so this country itself can appreciate the history of football.'' While Tyrrell initially felt that the disruption of soccer would have a negative effect on the sport, he admitted last night that the steps taken by the referees might ultimately help the game to improve.

"I would say something positive has come out of this strike. I saw tonight a bonding of the family of football ... we had hurt in one of our affiliates and all of the affiliates came together, I firmly believe this.'' Gregory Grimes, chairman of the BFA's referees' committee, was equally relieved the strike was over.

"I am delighted that there will be football this weekend. I think the exercise was one that was needed, but it's clear to see that the affiliates and the BFA are all excited about the possibility of building on this and going from strength to strength,'' said Grimes.

"If the recommendations are followed to the letter I cannot see anything but good for the sport coming out of all of this.'' BRA president Lyndon Raynor's delight was two-fold. He said he was pleased to see the recommendations accepted without any hassle and was excited about having soccer back on the agenda.

"I hope we will never have to take this sort of action again. I love the game and would be the first to admit that I miss being out there, but there were some issues that needed to be sorted out. And having talked to some club people, I think they understand and they have all made an undertaking to make sure that everthing is in place.'' Raynor said that the recommendations that the BRA made should be acted upon before any game is started, pointing out that none of them would cost the clubs any money apart from that which deals with the sale of alcohol.

"The referees have been told by the clubs that these things will be done and we expect them to be in place. I think this whole thing has brought the affilates together.'' The BRA recommendations were: each team should provide two people as security for match officials and one field operator; all clubs should take measures to ensure that spectators are kept at least five yards away from the playing area, where applicable; all clubs should provide a clean and secure changing room for the match officials and at all times ensure no direct contact with players or spectators; no beverages should be sold in bottles or cans from one hour before the first match until one hour after the last match and clubs should ensure that any bottles or cans on the field should be cleared by 15 minutes before kick-off; all match documentation, such as team sheets and cards, should be given to match officials at least 30 minutes before kick-off.