The Jamaican soccer team's refusal to attend the post-match presentation following Bermuda's come from behind win on New Year's Day has drawn harsh criticism from Sports Minister Randy Horton.

In addition, the antics of Jamaican coach Peter Cargill during the 2-1 victory for Gary Darrell's men also came under fire from the Minister, who went as far as to suggest that he should be reported to FIFA - the world governing body of soccer.

"It was in poor taste and I am very sorry that the management of the team didn't see to it that they came out for the presentation," said Horton yesterday.

"The head of the Jamaican delegation was there but I certainly felt that the team should have been there."

The Minister said if a Bermudian team had been in the same situation there is no way they would have stayed away, adding that the Jamaicans had an obligation to be present for the post-match ceremony.

Horton did not hold back as far as Jamaican coach Cargill was concerned either.

"I thought the behaviour of their coach was definitely out of order," he said. "I actually saw one of their coaches run onto the field and in my estimation he certainly should be reported to FIFA for his behaviour."

While the Jamaicans may have felt hard done by referee Lyndon Raynor's decision to award Bermuda a late second-half penalty, Horton said that those sort of decisions were all part of the game.

"Lots of times when decisions are made one thinks that it's a home decision. But you can't let things like that stop you from playing the game," he said.

"It's all a part of it and having been one who has played international football and experienced some of the decisions you have to put up with overseas, that was nothing in comparison to some of the things some of our players have had to endure so far as a decision going against them is concerned."

The Minister hinted that Jamaica - ranked 51st in FIFA's world rankings and sixth in the CONCACAF region - may have been embarrassed by the loss. Bermuda is currently ranked 172nd.

"I think that they were very, very disappointed losing to Bermuda," he said. "When they go back home and they find out that they have lost in Bermuda they are going to get slammed."

He added the result may have influenced their after-match behaviour.

"I think that had a lot of impact on the way they handled themselves," he said. "There's absolutely no way that they will want to go home having to say that they lost to a Bermuda team.

"They may have reacted a lot to the fact that they don't want to go home knowing that they've lost to little-known Bermuda."

North Village coach Scott Morton, meanwhile, also had a run-in with Cargill shortly after his team were defeated by the visitors on Boxing Day.

Cargill initially refused to shake hands with the Village coach.

"I didn't get a comfortable feeling from it and afterwards I wished that I hadn't even extended my hand to him," said Morton recalling the incident.

"Basically, I just went over to greet him after the match and he paused for a few seconds. I assumed that he was frustrated at some of the calls that were made against his team."

Morton said Cargill's behaviour was 'totally unacceptable'.

"Regardless of whatever happened on the pitch I had nothing to do with that so I didn't think that I should have been subjected to his frustrations," he added. "As a coach you have to display the sort of character that you would like your players to emulate."

During the tour, Cargill refused to speak to TheRoyal Gazette other than to say after the final match defeat: "You bring us all the way down here to rob us. I have nothing to say to you!"