Within a few hours of his arrival in Bermuda early this afternoon, FIFA and CONCACAF referees' instructor Emerson Mathurin will tonight hold his first meeting at Police Recreation Club at 7.00 p.m.

Aldwyn Savery, former Director of Referees, said the opening topic would be "In Search Of Fair Play'', which is the actual title of one of Mathurin's many books he has written on soccer refereeing over the years.

His arrival from Canada, where he now resides, is the first significant sign recently of a local attempt to ensure that officiating in Bermuda takes a step forward -- the ranks of local refs having been depleted by a number of early retirements.

Mathurin's main role will be to conduct several courses over a six-day period.

Mathurin is a former secretary and president of both the St. Lucia Football Referees Association and the Ontario Soccer Referees Association and a founding member, treasurer and secretary of the Canadian Soccer Referees Association.

The hope locally is that his presence will help to improve the diminishing interest shown towards offciiating on the Island.

"The importance of having him here is to help us in our continued drive to attract people to referee. Hopefully having somebody here with his great ability will generate more interest among local residents and encourage more to become involved in officiating,'' said Savery.

"He's written books on all phases of refereeing and has delivered lively speeches in each country he has visited. He's quite a motivative speaker and he is hoping that tonight's session will attract coaches, trainers, managers, players and anybody involved in the sport.'' Tomorrow at Police Field there will be a practical session, starting at 8.30 a.m., followed by lectures, videos and tactical discussions.

On Sunday at Police Field, starting at 8.30, he will be talking about fouls and misconduct among other soccer subjects.

On Monday, from 6.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. he will be talking about the offside rule at the old Prospect School field and then at the same venue on Tuesday he will lecture on pre-game, half-time and post-game activities for officials.

Mathurin became a referee in St. Lucia in 1961 and was included on the North American Soccer League list of referees in 1972 and later on the FIFA list of international referees in 1975. He officiated in the 1976 Olympic Games and is still active as a Provincial Referee in Ontario, Canada.

Savery said yesterday those attending his course should bring to the meetings their books covering the laws of soccer.