Top CONCACAF officials are growing increasingly frustrated over the way Bermuda Football Association (BFA) executive members are handling events in the wake of the Under-23 player arrests at Miami International Airport last December.

Their concern was voiced yesterday amid reports that three of the arrested players -- Meshach Wade of BAA, Keishon Smith of Devonshire Colts and Kevin Jennings of North Village -- had been hit by another suspension handed down by the BFA and their clubs fined $1,000.

Wade, Smith and Jennings all played for their clubs over weekend although it is understood they had been ordered not to by the BFA.

Nobody from the BFA could be contacted last night to confirm the latest disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, CONCACAF is so rankled by the confusion -- whether "banned'' players should have been allowed to play for their teams -- that they are even considering a full-scale probe into BFA affairs.

"Eventually that may come about,'' CONCACAF president Jack Warner told The Royal Gazette yesterday. "Because things are getting more and more ludicrous and putting the sport into disrepute.'' Warner, reacting to information that three of the arrested Under-23 players competed in local matches over the weekend, revealed that the BFA or clubs involved could face stiff penalties, particularly if rival teams lodged a protest with FIFA.

"FIFA has no information on that yet,'' said Warner of the banned players competing. "Unless they get something, FIFA or CONCACAF can't do anything.

All a club has to do is write officially and say so.'' Warner said sanctions could involve a cash fine up to $30,000 or suspensions.

"This is a very serious offence,'' he said.

A high-ranking FIFA official, requesting anonymity, said soccer's world governing body was now awaiting an official report from the BFA but added "we have no information'' concerning the use of banned players.

"We cannot make any comment on this situation for the moment,'' said the official. "We are still waiting for the official report from the Bermuda FA.'' BFA general secretary David Sabir, defending the way the association has handled the matter, said yesterday that the report to FIFA would be completed in the next day or so.

Sabir went on to say that the directive to affiliates was exceedingly clear, before lashing out at "selfish'' teams who used banned players.

He also said the repercussions from their actions could be far reaching.

"This is what I was trying to tell one of these club members,'' said Sabir last night. "I said `you guys think that because you bucked the BFA that this is where the buck stops. Our affiliation to FIFA is in jeopardy when you do these things'.'' He added: "It's no joke, this is serious business. Now I have to report back to FIFA that these guys refused to abide by the suspensions.'' Sabir said the outcome of Monday's executive meeting would first be relayed to the clubs but promised to talk to the media today.

The new controversy grabbed the spotlight in the aftermath of a BFA directive last week to affiliates which stated that the seven former Under-23 players could not play until their status had been resolved.

The clubs of Jennings, Wade and Smith seemingly defied the BFA order by using the players in First Division or Alliance Division matches.

Four teams, however, opted not to use any of the arrested players -- Herbie Dillas of Southampton Rangers, Donnie Charles of Boulevard, Shawn Riley of Somerset and Tokia Russell of PHC.

The BFA imposed a seven year provisional suspension on the players prior to their court appearance in Miami. All seven pleaded "no contest'' to drug charges and were released.

Since then the BFA have failed to clarify the players' status, although they have been in contact with FIFA officials in Zurich.

At the heart of the matter is what to do with clubs who defied the order and whether a no contest plea is the same as a guilty plea.

According to Warner, however, a "no contest plea does not mean that they are not guilty. The sanctions will have to be enforced.'' It appears unlikely local clubs will go so far as to file a protest with FIFA over the use of banned players, although Vasco president Eddie Correia said "we will definitely take the matter wherever we have to'' if any of the suspended players play against his team.

"If we don't win the match then I can assure you we will lodge an appeal.'' Later he said: "In my personal opinion the whole thing has been somewhat of a joke. I hate to say it, and I have a lot of respect for certain people within the association, but I just hope they see what is happening by not making a very clear stance on the issue.'' One First Division coach, however, who wished to remain anonymous, said yesterday that the BFA directive couldn't have been clearer.

"But they didn't indicate what punitive measures would be taken if the order was broken, so I guess that made people feel that there was an opportunity to at least try to circumvent the directive.'' He added: "The BFA could have been more forceful in the way they wrote that particular letter, but I did not misunderstand where they were coming from. I didn't want to test the waters.'' North Village officials, one of the teams facing punitive measures for using a banned player, were planning to meet on the issue last night.

Said Village chairman of coaching Sherwin Dill: "Yeah, I'm concerned in terms of the reaction of the association.'' When asked how he now felt about his team using one of the suspended players during an Alliance Division match he said: "I would prefer not to comment on it at this time.'' Correia, meantime, said the BFA could have handled the situation in a more effective manner.

"I mean, it doesn't come as a surprise that BAA used Meshach Wade because BAA without Meshach Wade is half a team. I do believe it's up to the association to put their foot down and make sure this whole thing doesn't happen.

"Unfortunately I think they're only digging a bigger hole for themselves.'' Later he said: "I think they're under a lot of pressure now internally on how to deal with this issue. It seems to me they have not had the vision to really come down hard, not necessarily to be hard, but to follow the law.

"I have nothing against these (arrested players) personally, it could happen to me and it could happen to anybody.

"These players should have remained under provisional suspension until such time that there's a clear inquiry into the whole thing.'' DAVID SABIR -- `our affiliation to FIFA is in jeopardy...'