Richard Knight will be unavailable through injury for at least six weeks.

Knight broke an ankle last Thursday while running and the loss of his services could not be more untimely for Bermuda Football Association.

Last Sunday's Premier Division clash between Southampton Rangers and PHC was postponed because neither a referee nor linesmen were available to officiate.

Afterwards Gregory Grimes, chairman of the BFA's Referees Committee, warned the postponement could be "the first of many'' and appealed for more help from the clubs.

And with eight senior matches looming this coming Sunday afternoon in the second batch of FA Cup first-round ties, soccer can ill afford the loss of such an experienced official as Knight.

Knight explained yesterday: "I was out road running on Thursday and I turned to avoid a guy on a bicycle, slipped and broke my ankle. I will have a cast on for six weeks.'' Knight said he believed there were people on the Island who could help solve the crisis, but they lacked dedication.

"We have quite a few guys on our list, but a few of them are not really committed,'' said Knight.

"At the beginning of the season they say they will do some matches, but then they either don't show or other commitments keep them away. But we do have a few guys out there capable of doing matches.'' Some referees have lost enthusiasm due to verbal abuse hurled at them during matches, a problem which Knight believed was caused more by fans than players.

"Most of the problems we, as officials, have come from the spectators. We can control the 22 players on the pitch, but we have no control over the people in the stands,'' said Knight.

"They have a lot of influence on what happens in a game -- players react to what the spectators are saying.'' Knight has been officiating since 1985, so what inspired him to keep going? "I guess I like the game a lot and I always feel it will be better next year,'' he said. "I have been saying that for the last 15 years.

"There are a lot of things in football causing problems and it's going to take a lot to fix it, to tell the truth.

"I would like to see people's attitudes get better. I think poor facilites have something to do with it. But I understand that clubs need money to improve facilities and they have very little.'' Richard Knight: broken ankle.