The Bermuda Football Association have defended their decision not to allow referees to officiate Corona League matches, saying it was necessary for the good of the game on the Island.

With only 19 active referees and assistant referees for the coming season, the association are concerned that exposure to too many matches will effect an officials performance and in turn lower the standard of the domestic game.

General Secretary David Sabir lays-out the BFA's position today in an in-depth with The Royal Gazette, and he also blasted the Corona League for poaching referees, rather than training their own.

"Any referees who referee Corona League games will not be assigned to BFA matches," said Sabir. "Last season our referees did more matches then what is recommended to ensure their optimum performance. We must ensure that referees who want to function in our programme give their optimum performance at all matches with the highest possible standards including being physically and mentally prepared to referee their assigned game.

"It would be against the interest of the BFA to give consent (to referees to officiate in the Corona League). The Corona League have lured Bermuda Referees Association members to join their league by out bidding the BFA. The Corona League should start their own referee programme."

While some referees have expressed an interest in switching to the Corona League, Sabir laughed off any suggestion that the league which was forged in the dying embers of the Commercial League could operate as a rival to the BFA's competitions.

However, Sabir did acknowledge that the season ahead would be a difficult one, but insisted that an association that had been around since 1928 was perfectly capable of overcoming any obstacles thrown into its path.

"The BFA has been around since 1928," he said. "It is a bit premature, and offensive, to suggest that clubs who have been the hallmark of the Bermuda community should succumb to the formation of the Corona League."

With so few referees available, the BFA have taken the unusual step of asking club's to provide assistant referees should the need arise. It is a situation that has left some members of the footballing community concerned about the neutrality of those volunteers.

"We must believe in the good nature of the human spirit rather than the initial thought being that the club referee will lack the ability to be neutral. But to ensure neutrality is really asking will they "cheat!" To that we have to believe this will not be the case but we are prepared to deal with it should it arise."

Sabir did however issue a warning to all football lovers on the Island saying that the continued shortage of referees may eventually lead to the loss of games in the Professional Development League, and in the women's game.

"We have to be realistic and understand that refereeing is a significant component within football," he said. "Our clubs are well aware that without the required number of referees that we will be challenged."