Senior football referee George O'Brien was allegedly threatened following last Sunday's Martonmere Cup final at Somerset Cricket Club.

According to eye-witnesses, O'Brien, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, was confronted by a small group of men on the pitch after the match had ended and later allegedly threatened by a Devonshire Cougars team official in the dressing room.

A Bermuda Referee Association (BRA) source, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, told The Royal Gazette: "It was terrible! After the game they surrounded the referee and were very hostile. They came and surrounded the referee and told security not to touch them because they don't fear anybody. They just wanted to get their point across which to me they didn't have because the game is won or lost on the field. It was a hostile environment and very uncomfortable. And George (O'Brien) was very upset after the game.

"These guys got close to the officials before anybody could do anything. Security didn't do their job and the referee was at these guy's mercy."

O'Brien is also alleged to have been targeted in the clubhouse along with referee assistant Jenny Villamarin.

"I came in the changing room and Cougars assistant coach (Gary Mallory) was in there questioning the officials and he was out of bounds," the anonymous BRA source added. "The game was over and he had no right coming up there and being up in that woman's (Villamarin) face and asking her questions about her calls.

"Then after he (Mallory) left the Cougars' manager told George 'you cheated us . . . . don't come over the Rec (Devonshire Recreation Club) no more'. This was totally unacceptable behaviour and I think some sort of action should be taken."

When contacted, Mallory admitted to confronting Villamarin in the dressing room — but vehemently denied displaying any unruly behaviour towards the ex-pat official.

"As assistant coach I am entitled to ask questions. She (Villamarin) responded and I then left," he said.

But when asked was O'Brien threatened by one of his colleagues, Mallory replied: "I don't know anything about any threats."

Neither BFA or BRA officials were prepared to comment on the matter yesterday.

Prior to last Sunday's cup final the BFA vowed to clamp down on security at club venues in the wake of last month's incident at Devonshire Recreation Club that forced a First Division match between Wolves and Paget to be abandoned after blade-wielding youths stormed the ground.

But as of yesterday questions remained unanswered as to why security personnel were not present when O'Brien was confronted after the match, with BFA safety and security deputy chairman Lloyd Smith only prepared to divulge: "I cannot respond until I have first seen the official match report."