The Bermuda Football Association have taken drastic steps to show that violence will not be tolerated at games...by cancelling this weekend's crucial round of First Division matches.

And the association hopes the `time-out' will force those involved in football to reflect on the seriousness of the problems within the national sport.

"We have looked at the whole operation of football and decided that unless we take a firm stand now, football will suffer further,'' said BFA president Neville Tyrrell yesterday. He confirmed that the matches will not be rescheduled which will mean the season being reduced to 17 league games.

The association is reacting to the latest incident of unruly behaviour which came on Sunday when Boulevard player Haile Outerbridge threw a bottle which hit referee Anthony Mouchette in the back, forcing the match with Devonshire Colts to be abandoned. Outerbridge had just been sent off.

While admitting the decision to cancel this weekend's games was not taken lightly, Tyrrell and general secretary David Sabir both insist such drastic action is necessary.

"We take the full weight of the decision we made, it was not an easy decision to come to,'' said Tyrrell of the Executive Committee's decision.

"Along with this decision we are encouraging every individual who professes to love this great game to use this weekend to reflect on the importance of football, what football means to all of us as individuals and to look at football's value to society,'' said Tyrrell in a prepared statement.

The season has been marred with violence, mostly committed by players against each other or directed at referees. In December, Social Club's Ian DeSilva was banned for five years for throwing punches at referee Oral Swan during a Second Division match against St. David's at Bernard Park. Last month the violence escalated with Devonshire Cougars brothers Ryan and Wendell Swan involved in an attack on Dwight Basden of Vasco. Ryan was subsequently banned for seven years by the BFA and Wendell for two years.

"We are asking every player to take a moment and realise that what is taking place is harming our sport,'' added Tyrrell. "We are asking club administrators to decide what is in the best interest of football and work with individuals, players, coaches and others who are prepared to stand against the negative behaviour that appears to be on the rise in local football.

"We are appealing to the referees to look within and make a personal commitment to become the best referee and demonstrate that ability on the playing field.

"We are making an appeal to all fans and spectators of football to come on board and do what is right for football.'' A general lack of respect for club officials, property and other spectators has led to a decline in attendances at games over the years.

"The time has come for all fans to respect the policies of all our clubs,'' said Tyrrell.

"This includes paying through the gates, cease bringing bottles onto club grounds, refrain from damaging club property and stop using profanity and other verbally abusive language that only serves to further erode the quality of football.'' Cougars' survival hopes have been severly affected by the weekend cancellations as they were to play Boulevard in a crucial encounter.

Now, with two matches remaining, they will be relegated if Southampton Rangers beat either Somerset or Hamilton Parish and Boulevard get a point from either Vasco or Dandy Town.

Cougars still have to beat Hamilton Parish and Wolves in order to stay up. At the other end of the table Vasco need one point from their last two matches to retain their title.