A local football referee and a club president are accusing each other of racism following an incident at Saturday's lone Commercial League game.

Referee Gregory Smith has sent a report to Bermuda Football Association naming BAA president Arthur Adams in connection with incidents that occurred during and after the match at BAA Field between league champions BAA Wanderers and North Village Rams which ended in a 3-3 draw.

Smith said the trouble began in the 87th minute with Rams leading 3-2 when Adams, sitting on the bench and acting in the capacity of team medic, called him a f****** black b***** after Rams were awarded a free kick.

But Adams hit back yesterday, saying that he actually called Smith a "prejudiced black b*****''. "Everything got out of hand. I wasn't the only one cursing him, even the opposition were cursing him,'' said Adams, who accused Smith of biased refereeing.

"When a man in one half can give out six yellow cards and three red, all on one side, something has to be wrong, right?'' Smith said he stopped the game and asked Adams to leave the bench. "He told me he was the president and that I can't make him leave,'' explained Smith.

Adams insisted Smith never showed him a card.

"The coach James Gallagher spoke to him and he went behind the seats behind the team bench,'' added the referee.

"He wouldn't leave when I was talking to him and when I told him `the game wouldn't go on until you leave', that's when James Gallagher had a word with him. He went behind the bleachers but his mouth was still running.

"Clarence Burrows, the linesman for North Village, also said certain people had abused him, calling him all kinds of names.'' Smith said he cautioned six BAA players, four for dissent, and one North Village player and he sent off BAA's Andy Chiappa in the 76th minute for abusive language.

Another red card was shown to someone on the BAA bench for swearing at him but the card was withdrawn because the referee acknowledged he wasn't certain about who had actually spoken.

Smith explained that the incident with Adams could have been dismissed as a "heat of the moment occurrence'', except that he had another confrontation with the president afterwards while having a drink in the club bar.

"He told the bartender `as soon as this man finishes his drink I want you to escort him off the ground','' said the referee.

Adams admitted he did say he wanted Smith to leave the premises after finishing his drink.

Smith subsequently contacted the police from the club to determine his rights, and on the urging of a club member remained on the premises and had no further contact with the president who left soon after.

"They (Police) told me that as a licensed liquor club he had the right,'' said Smith. "That bothered me, too, because at least I thought he had to give me an explanation as to why he wanted me off the ground.

"After the game if he hadn't said anything to me I could have excused it as a heat of the moment thing. I would accept if he just apologised.'' Adams told The Royal Gazette yesterday he was prepared to offer Smith an apology.

Smith, a former goalkeeper with St. George's Colts, joined the Referees' Association three years ago. He said he had no intention of quitting after the incident.

"I haven't considered not refereeing anymore, I can accept it as a one-off thing,'' he said. "I initially started to referee because of the shortage of referees. I love doing Saturdays because they are a bit more casual.'' Wanderers led 2-0 in the first half through goals in the first and 22nd minutes by Andy McCulloch and Brian Cook. Rams hit back with three unanswered goals in the 55th (Ross Lambe), 74th (Allan Smith) and Lambe again (79th) from the penalty spot. BAA earned a point with a penalty of their own in the 89th minute from Kevin Hanson.