The owner of a bar where a Portuguese football fan was badly beaten has condemned the ?cowardly? attack.

Docksiders owner Reed Young said he was stunned by the sustained beating, reportedly carried out by four young black Bermudians and which left the victim needing plastic surgery.

He said the bar was doing all it could to catch the culprits ? and said Police had been handed security footage that might have captured the violence.

The attack was also condemned by politicians in the House of Assembly last night. Premier Alex Scott branded it ?despicable?.

Trouble flared outside the Front Street pub after Wednesday?s World Cup semi-final clash between France and Portugal.

Reports said the culprits hurled racist abuse at their victim, before attacking him from behind and then kicking and punching his face.

Mr. Young said he did not see the attack but confirmed that a violent altercation did take place.

?We are doing everything in our power to get to the bottom of it and to get the individuals who carried out the assault prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,? he told last night.

He added: ?It was a cowardly act. It was unnecessary and we are as upset about it as the Portuguese community would be. We are here to support the victim and to get to the bottom of it.?

The manager said that the atmosphere at the bar throughout the World Cup had been ?great? and there had been no problems.

Security had been present during the England and Portugal match, but there was no trouble.

Mr. Young admitted he didn?t expect any problems on Wednesday as the bar was full of Portugal fans, who had not caused ?an ounce of trouble? throughout the tournament.

He said he thought the thugs behind the beating ?came in looking for trouble?.

Witnesses said a flag had been set alight inside the bar in a bid to deliberately provoke the Portuguese following.

A Police spokesman confirmed officers were called to a disturbance outside Docksiders just after 6 p.m. on Wednesday. He said officers went to the hospital but the injured victim was ?not in a position? to say what happened.

The spokesman said no official complaint had been received about the attack.