abandoned First Division match between St. George's and Hamilton Parish has filed an official complaint with the Police.

Yesterday, Sgt. John Dale of the Police Community Relations Department, confirmed that Police were looking into the matter. "We have received a formal complaint and are investigating it,'' Sgt. Dale said.

But the incident will not deter Gladwin Lodge from continuing on as a soccer official. In fact he was disappointed at not being able to complete his first full match in the First Division, as referee Gregory Belboda decided to abandon the match in the best interests of the players and officials.

"Yesterday I said I would quit but I don't think so because there is a shortage now,'' Lodge told The Royal Gazette yesterday. "I'm not going to let one person put a damper on it. This is not something you do for the money but for the love of the sport.'' Lodge went to the Police Station on Sunday evening and is due to return to give a statement. He also went to the hospital as a precaution after the bottle hit him on the left temple.

Lodge, a former soccer and cricket player with Somerset Eagles and Flatts, is in his first season as a referee. "People have no respect for linesmen or referees because there are a lot of things they think they know about the rules of the game but don't,'' Lodge said.

"The rules of the game change but people don't make themselves aware of them.

Even ex-soccer players criticise referees but won't come out and help because they won't take the abuse.'' Director of referees Aldwyn Savery admits acts of violence against soccer officials is hardly helping the Bermuda Referees Association drive to attract new referees.

Just last week Savery made a public appeal for new people to join the ranks of the BRA but Sunday's incident, which forced the game to be abandoned in the 64th minute with St. George's leading 2-1, is only serving to deter those who might be interested.

"This is really disheartening because here we have one official who seems to be enjoying refereeing,'' Savery said of Lodge.

"It's disheartening for people we're trying to recruit and it's no wonder we can't get people to join us. I can't believe people would go so far as to assault people in black and white. It's very scary but I understand the BFA has taken steps already to set up a (three man) commission. I'm pleased with that.'' The membership of the referees association presently stands at 27 with the recent departure from the Island of Sean Johnson having robbed them of one of their senior officials. There are also three female officials registered.

The BRA is seeking about 25 new members with younger people in particular being targeted because of the new age limit of 45 for those on the international list.