Bermuda Football Association held high-level discussions with Police top brass yesterday in a bid to stamp out soccer ground violence.

BFA president Larry Mussenden said such violence would no longer be tolerated. And he vowed that convicted hooligans would be dealt with severely by the association.

The PLP senator said he expected to meet senior officials from the Ministries of Public Safety and Sports in the very near future and again called for tougher legislation to combat soccer violence.

He spoke out after a player was attacked in the Southampton Rangers Sports Club car park following Sunday's First Division match between PHC and Social Club.

The 28-year-old Social Club player was found sitting on the ground with cuts to his face, but left in a private vehicle after refusing treatment from medics. However, he was treated at hospital and released.

It was the second incident in three weeks in which a player was attacked on the club's South Shore premises. Earlier this month, Devonshire Cougars' player Shaki Minors was set upon by bat-wielding thugs as he exited the club's grounds with his team-mates. That incident is still under Police investigation and no arrests have been made.

Of the latest attack, Mr. Mussenden said: "We have decided to remit this incident to the committee presently being chaired by Charlie Marshall (BFA honorary life vice-president) to look into an incident which took place two weeks ago in which there were reports of violence at Southampton Rangers Sports Club. And the remainder of that committee was to look specifically into the incident which took place and to see what the Southampton Rangers and the BFA could have done to deal with that in general and to make any recommendations which would assist football."

Mr. Mussenden said the association had renewed its commitment to Southampton Rangers, in the wake of Sunday's incident, as an affiliate of the association and as a sports club within the community.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident should call CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-800-623-8477.

A 28-year-old Pembroke man has been arrested in connection with the assault on a 34-year-old Pembroke man at the Dandy Town Recreation Club following the Dandy Town vs Boulevard football match on Sunday October 19. A court appearance is pending.