Vasco Mariners have had a $3,000 fine imposed by Bermuda Football Association slashed in half on appeal.

But the club are still not happy and have not ruled out further action for a punishment they believe is not in line with Vasco's Commercial League status.

Mariners landed the massive fine and two club members were hit with lengthy bans after they were found to have “deliberately deceived” the BFA during and after a game on November 24.

The A Division club were involved in a bizarre incident involving players Stephen Rodrigues and David Barbosa and coach Dennis Rodrigues.

Barbosa, banned from playing in the November game against Key West Rangers, is said to have turned out under the name of Stephen Rodrigues, his team-mate.

However, he was sent off after striking coach Rodrigues, who was running the line.

At the subsequent disciplinary hearing Barbosa once again masqueraded as Stephen Rodrigues and the BFA unwittingly banned the innocent man for five years.

Pressure from Rodrigues apparently led to Vasco coming clean, and as a consequence, the club were dragged over the coals at a BFA disciplinary meeting last month.

Rodrigues had his suspension lifted and Barbosa had a six-year ban slapped on him instead after having a charge of behaviour designed to bring the game into disrepute proven.

The BFA suspended coach Rodrigues from both coaching and playing for five years for allowing an ineligible player to play under a false name.

The club were then hit with the whopping fine for a “deliberate act to deceive the Bermuda Football Association and the Disciplinary Board”.

Yesterday, the BFA revealed that Vasco had appealed the fine aspect of the punishment and as a result it was reduced to $1,500. In addition, though, the club were given a two year probation order. The suspensions stand.

Vasco secretary Paul Fortuna said yesterday he accepted his club had done wrong but believed as a non-profit organisation the punishment was still severe.

“Basically, from my perspective this was a game that took place in the Commercial Division, a non-revenue generating division,” he said. “The issue is that you are fining the club X amount of dollars and it is non-revenue generating.

“If 80 percent of the other teams in that division were handed out a fine of this nature they would have to fold. Whether it's $1,500 or whether it's $3,000 it's still a significant amount. That is not to undermine the fact that, yes, the club was guilty. But the fine is still, in my opinion, pretty hefty.”

Fortuna said he questioned whether anyone else had been similarly fined in the past.

“I know there have been a number of situations years ago when I was involved with Vasco where the punishments were not as severe as this one and perhaps they should have been,” he said, adding that he thought the BFA needed to have a look at its policy in such matters.

“From my perspective, the BFA really needs to have a good look at the sport of football in general and say if the punishments that are going to meted out to Commercial League teams are going to be equal to those of Premier and First Division teams they need to assure that there are referees and two linesmen at these games,” he said.

“The Commercial League has one official show up for games. Any time you have a club official or a fan having to do some form of officiating it will lead to controversy. Unfortunately, this happened.”

As to what happens next, Fortuna said that was to be discussed last night.

“I have an executive committee meeting tonight and I will go to that executive and update them in terms of the ruling from the appeals committee,” he said. “At that point it will be discussed whether we look at further recourse or we accept the punishment meted out and pay it.”