Convicted football hooligans should be shown the red card by Bermuda's courts, according to shadow Sports Minister Cole Simons.

Simons was commenting in light of last week's incident at Devonshire Rec. in which several men armed with a baseball bat, a machete and a Samurai-type sword attempted to attack other spectators during a Martonmere Cup semi-final match.

One of those alleged to have been involved has since turned himself into Police, but the others are still being sought. One was thought to have been a registered football player.

CrimeStoppers have issued an appeal to members of the public to help in their identification.

Last Friday Bermuda Football Association and Government promised to get tough with those convicted of offences at football grounds. BFA President Larry Mussenden promised to ban all thugs from attending matches and Sports Minister Randy Horton said he would seek better training for security personnel, increased use of public address systems and stricter controls and surveillance efforts at points of entry into sporting grounds, among other initiatives.

Simons, meanwhile, believes Bermuda has to look to Britain for an appropriate answer to the problem of soccer violence.

"Given the recent spate of violence and hooliganism at our soccer games it is time for the (Jennifer) Smith Government to take action against those thugs who are holding football fans hostage at some games," he said. "If we are going to ensure that soccer is played in a family environment, and that it is worthy of (being) one of Bermuda's national sports, then the time is ripe for us to examine the introduction of Football Disorder Legislation.

"It could be modelled after similar legislation introduced in the United Kingdom during the Fall of 2000."

Simons said such legislation would:

Allow courts to issue a banning order, which would prohibit known and convicted hooligans and thugs from attending all football matches.

Require the banned persons to attend a Police station during the time of soccer matches to ensure they are not a public nuisance.

Allow courts to ban violators for up to five years.

Require those people who are subject to banning orders to surrender their passports for the duration of the ban.

Allow bans to be applied whether or not the offender had been convicted of prior offences.

Require photographs of all offenders to be taken by Police and circulated at all sporting clubs and Police stations.

"I must reiterate that the Smith Government must get tough on crime," Simons said. "We cannot leave this fight in the hands of the sporting clubs and the Bermuda Football Association alone. The community must be involved."