Attorney General Larry Mussenden has called for a drunk fan who wreaked havoc at a soccer match this week to be the first to be punished under new laws controlling crimes committed at sporting venues.

The man walked on to the pitch at Somerset Cricket Club on Wednesday, assaulting a player and threatening a match official, causing the game to be delayed and nearly abandoned.

Mr. Mussenden, also president of the Bermuda Football Association (BFA), described the incident during the Friendship Trophy quarter-final between Somerset Trojans and Boulevard as "absolutely atrocious".

The Senate this week passed legislation making sports grounds increased penalty zones and Mr. Mussenden is keen for this week's offender to be the first to feel the teeth of the amendment to the Criminal Code.

"Let this man be the first to be punished under the new code," said Mr. Mussenden, who has sought to improve the image of local football after machete-wielding thugs brought a sickening, premature end to the Friendship Trophy final last season.

"This incident, as it has been described to me, seems to warrant criminal charges as it appears assaults have been occasioned.

"I would urge the player and the match official involved to report their assaults to the Police as soon as possible so that they can conduct a thorough investigation.

"I condemn this appalling behaviour. Football is played successfully in Bermuda every week by hundreds of people from all walks of life and is enjoyed by thousands weekly.

"But I recognise that a foolish act such as this brings with it a lot of negative publicity to the game.

"Football doesn't deserve that, the teams don't deserve that and the community doesn't deserve that. I want to see the full brunt of the criminal and civil law brought to bear on this individual."

Senators passed the Criminal Code Amendment Act (2) on Wednesday, just hours before the incident, increasing penalties for violent offenders and increasing the powers of arrest for Police at areas surrounding churches, schools and public sporting grounds. It must still be enacted by Governor Sir John Vereker.

Mr. Mussenden called for the 'fan' to be banned for life from all soccer grounds and has launched an investigation by the BFA.

See Sport, Page 21