As Dandy Town and Devonshire Cougars played to an exciting 3-3 draw in Sunday?s FA Cup final at the National Sports Centre, it was football that emerged as the day?s biggest winner, according to Bermuda Football Association general secretary David Sabir.

In the wake of recent violence that has plagued Bermuda?s national sport, Sabir yesterday encouraged ?football loving people? not to allow those negative events to ?drive us from our own game.?

?I think it was a wonderful FA Cup final in light of the recent incidents. There was a good crowd and they acquitted themselves in the manner which one expects at a cup final,? said Sabir.

?It is very important that we continue to hold football afloat and continue to support the players who choose to play the game in the spirit in which it is supposed to be played. And I would like to encourage football loving people to stand by the theme of not letting negative behaviour drive us from our own game.?

The BFA executive also commended players from both teams for exhibiting fair play on the pitch.

?I would also like to comment on the behaviour of the players for demonstrating fair play. In a number of instances we saw players helping one another up after a foul or showing some consideration when one or two players from opposing teams went down with injuries,? Sabir continued. ?Both teams fought very hard having had a couple weeks lay-off. And I think they put everything they had into the game.

Sabir also thanked Bermuda Police for ensuring a safe environment for those in attendance.

?I would like to publicly thank the Bermuda Police Service that were on duty at the game to ensure we had safety measures in place . . . there were no reports of negative incidents,? he said.

?That was very pleasing to see and so as we attempt to complete the season tomorrow (today) we ask spectators to again come out and show their support and hopefully we will get a performance that will equal that which was shown on Sunday by both teams.?