Bermuda Football Association (BFA) yesterday renewed warnings to those who engage in ant-social behaviour to stay away from local football grounds in the wake of what is believed to have been a gang-related assault that threatened to disrupt last weekend's Martonmere Cup double header at BAA Field.

According to eyewitnesses, a man sitting inside the clubhouse bar was attacked from behind by a group of men. Police and BFA security personnel were immediately called to the scene, but the culprits all made good their escape on foot.

"Football is and has to be the sport that unites people for the good of the game and community and in order for this to become a reality these young who are engaging in anti-social behaviour have to play their part in supporting our ideals of fair play," stated BFA general secretary David Sabir.

"So we ask the public to celebrate all that is good about football and to those who do not want to do that to stay away and engage in these behaviours elsewhere because we don't want our football to be a stage for anti-social behaviour."

Saturday's incident was the first of this nature since the association spent $300,000 in an effort to beef up security at local football grounds earlier this year.

"I would like to commend the chairman of the BFA's security committee (Troy Brimmer) together with the Police Service who were swift in their arrival and BAA for their understanding of the situation," Sabir added.

"All of us in football who respect the game and each other as citizens will continue to look upon these acts of anti-social behaviour with disdain and hopefully this was a one-off (incident) based on simple misunderstandings."

Meanwhile, one eyewitness who wished to remain anonymous yesterday relived the terrifying ordeal that took place during the nightcap featuring defending Martonmere Cup champions Devonshire Cougars and Somerset Trojans.

"I don't know if it was a gang thing or somebody owed money or it had to do with drugs, but there was some guy who seemed pretty occupied at the bar ordering drinks," she said.

"Next thing you know about ten guys walked up behind him and started kicking and punching him before emptying a trash barrow of empty beer bottles and throwing them around."

It is understood club officials suspended bar service for about 20 minutes before resuming after order had been restored. There was no damage was reported.

"It all happened so quickly, but people were really shocked and disgusted," the eyewitness added.

"Police did arrive after the disturbance, but it seemed like awhile."