World football boss Sepp Blatter has passed the condolences of the sport's global community to the reeling family of slain Shaki Crockwell.

Mr. Blatter, the president of football governing body FIFA, personally wrote a letter to Bermuda Football Association to express his sadness at the murder of former national team star Mr. Crockwell.

Describing Boulevard Blazers and Bermuda Hogges striker Mr. Crockwell as a talented player, Mr. Blatter said he had penned his letter with a heavy heart.

"On behalf of FIFA and the worldwide family of football, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the Bermuda FA, to everyone in the Bermudian football community and, most importantly, to Shaki Crockwell's family, his girlfriend and two sons, friends, loved ones and club team-mates," wrote Mr. Blatter.

"Please let them know that today the worldwide football community stands by their side. We would hope that in some way our words of support may help bring a little bit of peace and solace to you all."

BFA president Larry Mussenden told The Royal Gazette FIFA officials had called him after reading local media reports on the Internet, explaining how 25-year-old Mr. Crockwell's body had been discovered on the Railway Trail, Devonshire, after he had been shot in the neck on Friday, August 24.

Shortly afterwards, Mr. Blatter e-mailed his letter to BFA, before sending a hard copy by courier. Mr. Mussenden will present that to Boulevard Blazers.

Making a brief speech at Mr. Crockwell's funeral yesterday, Mr. Mussenden read out Mr. Blatter's letter in full before saying he hoped football could help bring peace to the Island.

He pointed to the example of war-torn Iraq, where people were temporarily united as the nation's football team battled against the odds to win the Asian Cup last month.

Afterwards, he told this newspaper: "Football is a game that has caused people to stop fighting wars, and also caused people to pursue peace. We have seen it in Iraq and the former Yugoslavia.

"Football has been used for people to put down their weapons and come together. I thought that in memory of Shaki here in Bermuda we could use football for peace.

"When you think of football games, when there's rivalry on the field, people can think of peace."