THE REFEREES? shortage from which local soccer has been suffering for countless years was always going to cause problems.

And never were those problems brought more sharply into focus than during last weekend?s first round of FA Cup matches.

With seven games requiring three officials each, the depleted ranks of Bermuda Referees? Association were severely stretched.

But was that any reason to change the rules of the game? Apparently so.

When the early match between Hamilton Parish and X Roads ended deadlocked at 3-3 after 90 minutes regulation, rather than play the required 30 minutes of extra-time, officials decided to end the tie there and then, thus forcing a replay.

Their reason? Both linesmen had to dash off to officiate at another cup tie with a later kick-off time.

From what we?ve read and seen on TV this week, neither the teams, the BRA nor the governing body, Bermuda Football Association, had any problem with that decision, which would all appear rather strange.

Either we?re going to play football by the rules or we?re not.

And the rules and regulations of the FA Cup clearly state that should a match end all square after 90 minutes, the game should progress to extra-time. Only if the score remains even after that extra period should a replay be necessary.

No doubt the decision of those officials at Lords last Sunday was an honourable one and made with good intent ? although some cynics might point out those involved were merely trying to ensure that they received two match fees for the day rather than one.

But the fact remains that the very people who are involved in the game to ensure rules are upheld made a decision which went completely against those rules.

We?ve heard it said many times before, ?no player?s bigger than the game?. And the same applies to the officials. Simply because they had committed to another match doesn?t mean they could alter the rules.

Had the second match in which they officiated ended all square after 90 minutes, presumably extra-time would have been played. We then would have had two completely different sets of rules for cup ties played on the same day.

As noted, nobody seemed too bothered by their decision, not in the least Hamilton Parish who, with their opponents having had a man sent off, would have entered extra-time with a numerical advantage.

If the second match at which the linesmen were due to officiate had to be delayed or even postponed, so be it.

Otherwise we might as well throw the rulebook out of the window.

WHILE golf arguably has been the fastest growing sport over the last 10 to 20 years, if there?s one facet of the game that has stunted its growth it?s slow play.

Now a book devoted entirely to that subject, and placing the blame firmly on the shoulders of our friends to the west, has been written by a long-time Bermuda resident.

Scotsman Eric Laing became so incensed by the long hours he was being forced to spend on the golf course by dithering players in front of him that he wrote the book ?America! What have you done to the auld game??

It will be in local bookstores soon and given the snail?s pace at which golf is often played on this Island, it should be required reading for all locals.