Bermuda official lends a hand as referee is attacked While called upon to move swiftly to restore peace after a hot-tempered Colombian player kicked and punched a referee at the Pan-Am Games in Argentina last week, it was by no means the most bizarre experience Esten Curtis has had to face at an international event.

Back home from the most prestigious appointment of his career, the Bermuda FIFA-listed official recalled that the recent punch-up at the Games was not nearly as "upsetting'' as the incident in Trinidad and Tobago four years ago when a coup attempt cancelled the Shell Caribbean Cup.

"This incident at the Pan-Am Games was nowhere near as upsetting to what occurred during the Shell Cup semi-final, I'll never forget that,'' said Curtis, who returned home on Sunday afternoon.

"The sending off at the Pan-Am Games didn't even last that long. The player showed dissent after he got the yellow, and then when he protested he got another yellow that led to the sending off and he just kicked at the referee and then punched him,'' said Curtis.

Hot-headed Latin American players are known for exploding like this but the team of elite officials appointed by FIFA were prepared to deal with this sort of incident and that's why things did not get out of hand at the Mar del Plata stadium.

The incident occurred soon after Mexico equalised in the 62nd minute, and trouble was ignited moments after Colombia's Arley Bentacourt was booked for a foul.

Curtis was the first on the scene to lend assistance after the player retaliated when he was given the red card, intervening by getting between the two and restoring order.

"Yes, I got there quickly to give the referee much needed assistance.

Fortunately, though, the other players were easily subdued, in fact nobody else really got out of hand other than the player who simply overreacted before being pulled away,'' said Curtis.

Betancourt was quickly escorted off the field of play and taken away by the police, the total period of delay lasting no more than just a few minutes according to Curtis.

In sharp contrast the incident in Trinidad and Tobago in 1991 caused a long disruption afterwards as Curtis was delayed there for two weeks when the airport was closed down for a significant period.

"That was an experience I will never forget,'' said Curtis who, with other officials and Caribbean team members, had to keep a low profile in the hotel as police attempted to arrest the perpetrators who led the coup attempt.

"We didn't have any delay during the game and it finished without any problems. But I recall the camera people suddenly leaving late in the second half, nobody knew the reason at the time but we sure did find out later,'' said Curtis.

Aside from the incident Curtis said that he didn't experience any similar problems and returned home with pleasant memories of the Games.

He was by no means sparingly used after participating in nine games as a linesman. Each of those matches were incident free except the clash between Mexico and Colombia.

The soccer gold medal was won by Argentina who beat Mexico 5-4 on penalties after regulation and extra time produced no goals. Colombia then beat Honduras 3-0 to get the bronze.

Curtis said that one of the best games he witnessed in the tournament was the clash between Honduras and Argentina in the first round that ended 2-2, but noted that the best overall team that he saw was Mexico.

"They were just a very sound team, they always played well when I saw them,'' said Curtis.

He said that the tournament was well run with no real problems occurring. Most of the officials hailed from Argentina and other Latin American countries.

What's next on the agenda for Bermuda's top-ranked referee? Hopefully, he said, an assignment to officiate during the forthcoming preliminary rounds of the Olympic competition.

PAN-AM PUNCH-UP -- Colombian player Arley Betancourt is escorted off the field after being ejected for hitting a referee.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE -- Esten Curtis, centre, is often called upon to calm things down on the soccer pitch.