The disc jockey who played the wrong national anthem at the National Sports Centre prior to last Thursday night's kick-off between Bermuda and Trinidad took full responsibility for the ‘national indignity' yesterday.

At an impromptu Press conference at Bermuda Football Association (BFA) headquarters, Andre Rochester admitted he had played the “wrong” CD and not the one presented to him by BFA official Charles Clarke.

The incident - the latest in a series of recent hiccups during the traditional pre-match playing of the national anthem at international fixtures on local soil - created a furore among locals, particularly those present at the match who stood proudly only to hear the ‘Star Spangled Banner' blaring from the speakers rather than ‘God Save the Queen'.

“I apologise to the people of Bermuda. I did receive the correct CD, but I played the wrong one and that's all I have to say on that matter,” conceded Mr.Rochester, who in an earlier interview with The Royal Gazette pointed the finger at Mr.Clarke for the embarrassing ordeal.

When asked whether or not he had been reinstated to his post as public announcer for international fixtures, Mr.Rochester replied: “I don't know at this moment. It's all up to the BFA whether or not they want me back.”

Meanwhile, BFA general secretary David Sabir, though off the Island at the time of the incident, apologised to Mr.Rochester for the manner in which he was relieved of his duties and also to his fellow countrymen. The veteran DJ was told by BFA president Larry Mussenden “to pack up your stuff and leave” shortly after the botched pre-match ceremony.

“First of all I would like to support what the president (Mussenden) did by apologising to the people of Bermuda and also to our guest, the Trinidad national football delegation for the unfortunate circumstances involving the playing of the national anthems,” he said.

Mr.Sabir said it was very “unfortunate” the national indignity had occurred.

“It's important for me to also put into perspective what the chairman of our leagues and cup competitions Mr.Charles Clarke stated in his interview over the weekend - he's absolutely correct in that he would normally receive from myself the applicable anthems for the day,” he added.

“It's also important to note that one: I wasn't in Bermuda for these matches and that the anthems that were left for Mr. Clarke were the correct anthems.

“Unfortunately as Mr.Rochester has stated he did receive the correct anthems but unfortunately played the wrong ones on the day and this is a mistake that I think we all recognise.

“I am very glad that he has come forward today and admitted that he actually played the wrong anthem and that it wasn't a case of having the incorrect anthems presented to him from the Bermuda Football Association, and in this case myself as general secretary.”