Tempers flared at Bernard Park during an Under-17 league soccer match between North Village and Somerset over the weekend.

And referee DeRoy Butterfield later claimed it was the worst conduct he had ever witnessed in a youth game.

Though the two perennial rivals played to a thrilling 2-2 draw, the match was continually marred by bad behaviour and ref Butterfield had to reach for his red card on two occasions, sending off two Somerset players and booking another four from the same team.

Only one Village player was booked.

Butterfield said he was appalled by Saturday's incidents.

"I sent off one player for telling me that I was a `useless f***ing referee," he explained. "And the second dismissal was a result of the player committing a second bookable offence.

"I usually get the occasional chatter or a bit of dissatisfaction after a call but not like Saturday - these boys were just outright rude.

"They just about defied every decision I made - whether it was for them or against them, which I thought was strange."

Butterfield said a solution to the problem might be to assign more senior referees to junior matches.

"I think that if we had some senior officials like the Crockwells (Stuart) and Raynors (Lyndon) spend a bit of time in the junior ranks, we could stem this sort of behaviour," he said.

"By the time they (juniors) reached the senior ranks they would understand that once a call has been made it has been made."

Butterfield also urged coaches to take more responsibility for their players' actions.

"The coaches have to take some responsibility for their players. The players have to be taught discipline off the field during their training sessions."

When contacted, Bermuda Football Association (BFA) youth director Kenny Thompson said he was unaware of Saturday's incident.

However, one parent present during the match said she too was subjected to abuse.

"The ball had gone out of touch nearby and a Somerset player came over to retrieve the ball," she recalled.

"He was cussing loudly and when I told to mind his language, he just carried on, insisting that that's the way he always spoke."