The Friendship Trophy controversy looks likely to continue following Bermuda Football Association?s decision to expel Dandy Town from the competition.

The club said yesterday they were now contemplating taking their case to arbitration.

Town were booted out of the tournament for failing to turn up for last week?s penalty shoot-out with North Village, claiming the match should have gone to a replay as ordered by referee George O?Brien after the tie ended 2-2 after extra-time.

Town officials have already held brief talks with Ministry of Sport officials and last night were due to hold a special meeting at their St.John?s Road clubhouse to decide whether or not to pursue further action.

Hornets had an initial appeal fall on deaf ears early last week.

?Regardless of our opinion, the BFA executive gave a final ruling over rules and regulations governing the Friendship Trophy,? stated Western Stars Sports Club president Cal Blankendal.

?Since we did not show up for the penalty kicks we defaulted the match that was officially awarded to North Village. But we are not in favour of the ruling because we are being penalised for an error which the referee made.

?Officials from Bermuda Referees? Association (BRA) and the BFA were present at the match but both failed to take the authority to enforce penalty kicks. So to be quite honest we are now looking at taking our case to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) committee.

?We have been in touch with them briefly to gain further details and once we learn exactly what our options are then we will take further action regarding putting in a final appeal to that particular governing body. But the club will be meeting tonight.?

Blankendal, recently appointed chairman of the BFA?s youth committee, said the association?s latest ruling ?leaves a lot to be desired?.

?We are all always being encouraged to respect the decision of the referee,? he continued. ?And it was the referee who erred in stating a replay when in fact penalties should have been awarded.

?But if we were to disrespect the referee then players and clubs are fined. Now the referee has made an error and the club is again being punished for the referee?s error.

?I really think the BFA have to look at the ruling they have made and the future implications because they have now set a precedent which indicates that it?s not the referee who has the final say in any match which takes place in Bermuda.

?Although a referee might state the match has ended . . . is his decision or the result going to be allowed to stand or is the BFA executive going to overrule the result??

Blankendal said he was a ?bit surprised? that Village did not take a different stance or join forces with Town in pressing for a replay.

?It?s always hard to bow out of any cup competition in this manner and also disappointing the opposing team ? even though they are entitled to their own rights ? did not take another stance and support us for the good and the love of the game to have the match replayed for both parties and the general football public in Bermuda,? he added.

?I think it would have been good for football to have received unified support in this instance. We do wish Village the best of luck but the eventual winner of the competition will have to bear in mind that they did not have the chance to play against Dandy Town.?

Last October the Ministry?s ADR council overturned a BFA-imposed ban on Devonshire Cougars players Raymond Beach and Heys Wolfe.

The talented pair were initially given a lengthy suspension for berating former national coach Kenny Thompson during a tour match at the National Sports Centre last February.

An arbitration tribunal ruled that the association?s emergency committee had conducted its disciplinary hearing in an ?inappropriate? manner, paving the way for Beach and Wolfe to rejoin their team-mates on the pitch.