Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) executive Gary Fray lashed out at Southampton Rangers yesterday, accusing the Premier Division club of using semantics in a last ditch effort to have a six-match ban imposed upon their player/coach Janeiro Tucker lifted.

In a hard hitting BCB press release, Fray, the Board's disciplinary committee chairman, said: "Frankly I am a little disappointed that rather than recognise that one of their players has committed a serious offense, one which goes against the very spirit of cricket, by responding constructively, Southampton Rangers are focusing on getting this individual (Tucker) back on the field of play at all costs.

"For the record, any attempts to avoid a ban based on semantics will not be successful. Southampton Rangers initially queried the wording in a letter seeking clarification on what was meant by "all cricket". For the avoidance of doubt, the disciplinary committee reaffirmed that the decision made at the time included matches in the domestic season, the Bda (Bermuda) v Jamaica match on Sunday, February 3, and the Bda (Bermuda) v Guyana game on Sunday, February 10."

Tucker, who unsuccessfully appealed against the BCB ruling, was banned last November after being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.

He is alleged to have sworn at the umpire and stood his ground after being given out during a Premier Division match at Southampton Oval last September involving Rangers and Cleveland County.

Fray added: "This matter was put before the disciplinary committee and it was determined, weighing up all of the facts put before the committee that Mr. Tucker had been in breach of the code of conduct. The code is quite clear that given the magnitude of the offense a ban was mandated.

"Given Mr. Tucker's involvement with the national team programme the disciplinary committee took into consideration which matches would constitute this ban and consequently determined that a blended suspension was appropriate.

"Mr.Tucker repeatedly abused an umpire during a domestic match. This behavior will not be tolerated by any individual taking part in a local cricket match, least of all a member of the national programme.

"Southampton Ranges have attempted to appeal the decision made but failed to introduce any additional facts and this is a last ditch effort to try and prevent a ban."

Southampton Rangers president Randy Raynor said his club will now seek arbitration on the matter and have already sought legal counsel.

"We feel unfairly done by this decision and so we intend to seek recourse. The Board originally informed us that Janeiro was banned from all cricket. I think they need to get their house in order," he aruged.

"We now intend to state our case to the Ministry of Sports Alternate Dispute Resolution arbitrational panel and have already requested legal counsel.

"The BCB have moved the stumps and are not being correct with their actions because they are trying to correct a letter that was written months ago. Now they are claiming they meant something else and are trying to correct it."

The BCB have indicated they have no intentions of referring the matter to the alternative dispute process and are prepared to strenuously defend any challenge made to the disciplinary committee's decision.

"The BCB stands firmly behind our umpires and we will do our utmost to ensure that they are protected from any form of abuse," Fray said.