Concerns have been raised over the lack of Police presence at a "high risk'" football match at Southampton Oval at the weekend where a bus carrying Boulevard players was bombarded by missile-throwing youths.

It is alleged that a group of up to five youths hurled bottles and other projectiles at the vehicle parked near the club's South Shore entrance shortly after the Premier Division match involving hosts Southampton Rangers and Boulevard.

The altercation is believed to have been unprovoked and according to a club spokesperson no Police were assigned to a match classified as a high risk for violence to flare up between rival factions.

"We had six extra security guards working with our security team of four individuals but there was no Police presence at all," he said.

"The bus was parked in front of the gate of the club and Boulevard people were being loaded onto the bus when the provocation took place.

"A group of four or five men started throwing bottles and stuff and as far as I am aware fortunately no -one was injured."

As guardians of local football the onus remains with the BFA and its affiliates to ensure the safety of all at matches across the island by taking measures such as liaising with Police and other security personnel ahead of high risk matches.

But according to the Rangers spokesperson, that practise "took a back seat" in the lead up to last weekend's match at the Oval.

"The BFA usually call when a specific match is determined to be a high risk for violence to inform us that Police will be present.

"But no-one from the BFA called us last week and I was surprised because normally for matches such as this security is beefed up," he said.

"But there was no Police at all and had they been present perhaps this incident might not have happened.

"The security staff that was present did the best they could, but things certainly could have been a lot worst."

Boulevard Community Club (BCC) president Steven Proctor now intends to raise the matter with BFA officials in the "very near future".

"We are really concerned about this matter and I think every club should be because there's just no place for violence in our football," he said.

"This was a high risk game and there should have been a Police presence at the match."

There have been several reports of violence flaring up at Southampton Oval in recent years such as in 2003 when a Young Men's Social Club player and three other men all required hospital treatment after being attacked at the South Shore venue.

Violence has also flared up elsewhere as a year later the Friendship Trophy final at Wellington Oval was abandoned after armed thugs openly clashed in full view of terrified onlookers.

A Somerset Trojans player was also dragged off his motorcycle and held at knifepoint following a match at Malabar and more recently around 20 blade-wielding youths stormed a football match at Devonshire Recreation Club.

Since then the BFA have vowed to clamp down on violence at football matches by implementing new security measures as a deterrent.

"The community has experienced an increase in violence, the BFA has similarly experienced the negative consequences associated with violence by spectators at matches over issues that are not related to football," local football's governing body acknowledged. "The BFA has been pro-active in coordinating with the Bermuda Police Service on security issues as together we stand against violence.

"The Safety and Security Committee is mandated to work with the clubs, the Bermuda Police Service and the Government to ensure a safe and sportsmanlike environment.

"The BFA and the clubs have a duty to ensure that players, officials and spectators alike enjoy football in a safe and secure environment."

A recent BFA study has revealed "some players are involved in anti-social behaviour which has resulted in the inability of these same players being able to move freely between club venues island-wide".

Even more disturbingly, the study revealed "some teams fan-base is now starting to be linked with the established gang group in their area".