Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney has hit out at the top echelons of the Bermuda Police Service for failing to deter a disturbance after a Saturday afternoon football match.

Mr. Blakeney said he felt "let down" by the force following the attack on Boulevard Blazers players by a mob at the Southampton Rangers ground.

The incident happened just after 3 p.m. on Saturday as the players left the under-23's Professional Development League game, which resulted in a one-all draw.

As they got into vehicles to leave the ground in Southampton, violence flared from a crowd of around 20 outside the gate. Bottles and rocks were thrown as missiles, with the brunt of the violence directed at a taxi cab transporting six Boulevard teammates.

Witnesses also reported seeing a hammer and shovel being used to inflict damage on the taxi.

Rangers' president Randy Raynor claimed Police had only offered to send a passing patrol car during the course of the match.

Last night however, the Bermuda Police Service said the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) had not flagged the game up as "high risk".

Mr. Blakeney however, said: "I'm not asking for 30 officers to be at a game, but to use their intelligence better. They should be able to deploy resources better than they do."

The Minister said: "We've had the St. George's incident and the Cup Match incident, and now this."

He said the growing incidents of mob violence at sporting fixtures was symptomatic of the wider problem of rising anti-social behaviour.

"In a 22-square mile Island you have maybe 300 people involved in this type of behaviour. So when you have the kind of intelligence the Police have, I don't understand why this is such an overwhelming challenge."

Asked if he felt let down by the Police, the Minister said: "Yes, of course, especially the leadership.

"This community problem has been going on longer than is reasonable. The public has been witness to the actions of the Government, by way of our continuous appeal to Government House, with regards to our concerns to the Governor about the Police not being able to make any progress in dealing with this situation."

However he added: "There is a pecking order. I think the leaders of the leadership in policing know who they are, and I'm let down.

"The whole country will be let down if they don't do their job the country is paying them to do.

"I don't want to be hearing statistics about how bad it's getting, I want to hear about action and what is being done.

"I think the Police know we are paying them to figure out how to deal with the challenge, and so far they haven't shown me that not being at the (football) games works."

Mr. Blakeney described the actions of those involved in Saturday's incident as "cowardly".

"It was reprehensible," he said.

"Football is the beautiful game, it is not about anti-social behaviour. My grandchildren like football and I don't want them to have to go to a football match and then be subjected to running for cover from bottles being thrown. That is uncivilised."

The Minister is to discuss the incident with Cabinet colleagues today and also plans to meet with the BFA and Police.

He said: "This is a policing leadership issue, about deployment and strategic planning."

Last night Acting Home Affairs Minister Walter Roban said: "Any acts of violence, particularly at public venues are cause for concern.

"However I am confident that the Bermuda Police Service is doing their due diligence and working with the membership of the Southampton Rangers Club to ensure that the offenders are brought before the courts."

He added: "If we are to tackle this rebellious and disruptive element of our society, it is critical to have the cooperation and interaction of the public."

A Police spokesman said: "Over the last few days much has been said about the Bermuda Police Service and the lack of attendance at a particular sporting venue this weekend. We would like to take this opportunity to clarify a few of the facts involved.

"At the end of the match it appears that players from the Boulevard team were getting into a taxi when males attacked the vehicle using projectiles and other objects.

"Police were called and upon arrival it was ascertained that the victims had already left and the suspects had also made good their escape. Police kept a high visibility presence in the area and one person was arrested as a result of a warrant check."

The spokesman said: "No one from the Bermuda Football Association or their affiliates at any time made contact with Bermuda Police Service to indicate that Saturday's game was considered a high risk match.

"No one from the Bermuda Police Service ever communicated to the Southampton Rangers Sports Club management that they would not be attending.

"As per usual Police maintained a high visibility presence at other games over the weekend where there was a potential for violence.

"The Bermuda Police Service is committed to working with our community partners at the BFA to manage the potential for violence at football matches.

"We recognise that it is not easy to try and preempt violence at these events, and the Bermuda Police Service remains committed to working with the Bermuda Football Association to ensure their football matches remain a safe place for all persons to attend."