Seven'' probably didn't realise it at the time -- but he was about to become author of Bermuda's longest running farce.

Every time mention is made of the infamous seven, it seems another unlikely chapter, more bizarre than the last, begins to unfold.

When singing star Judy Collins wooed Bermuda Festival audiences with her hit rendition of "Send in the Clowns'' last week she probably was quite unaware of the irony of such a number being performed in Bermuda.

Send in the Clowns? No need, Judy. We've got a whole circus full of 'em here -- all operating under the guise of supporters of our national sport.

Sadly, if the episode launched by the arrests in Miami almost two months ago didn't have such serious repercussions, with drugs at the root of the trouble, then it would be almost possible to laugh at the chain of blunders that followed.

Consider this: We have a governing body -- the BFA -- who: 1) Initially deny the sport has a major drugs problem; 2) Fire their technical director for suggesting such a problem exists; 3) Include in their national squad to travel abroad a player who has been arrested for heroin possession; 4) Sanction a series of matches aimed at financing legal fees accrued by the players even before sentence has been passed.

After sentence has been passed and the players convicted -- and let's make it quite clear that "convicted'' is the appropriate word -- the farce continues.

With the BFA left no option but to enforce the suspension that was "provisional'' up until the court hearing, they instead go into hiding, choosing to consult neither CONCACAF nor FIFA for guidance.

They ASK clubs not to play any of those under suspension, but at the same time don't call in the playing cards without which a player cannot step onto the field.

Some clubs, irresponsibly putting their own welfare ahead of the sport as a whole, ignore that BFA request, and throw the game into an even deeper crisis by playing their `stars'.

What we are left with is one holy mess.

The clubs are at odds with the BFA; the BFA at odds with CONCACAF; and the paying public totally confused.

And while all of this is going on, the BFA remain silent. They refuse to return calls, clarify events or issue statements on their plan of action.

Amazingly, general secretary David Sabir appears on a three-part ZBM-TV interview to talk of his experiences over the past two years, but refuses to comment on the Miami Seven.

With the association in turmoil, and under fire from all sides, he wants to talk about day to day affairs.

Sorry David, the public believe there's more pressing matters at hand.

And we'd like some answers, quick.

If not soccer could soon become our national sport of the past.