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Referees drop Southampton Oval boycott threat

Bermuda Referees Association (BRA) have waved off their boycott of Southampton Oval.The association had vowed not to officiate at the South Shore home of Southampton Rangers any longer unless security was beefed up to enhance their members' safety in the wake of last weekend's alleged assault on referee Stephen Allen.Allen is alleged to have been assualted and threatened by Rangers coach Keith Jennings who could be brought up on disciplinary charges for dragging last weekend's Premier match between his team and Dandy Town into disrepute.Tempers flared after Allen awarded Hornets a late penalty that proved to be the game winner.It was feared that Sunday's Premier match featuring PHC and Boulevard at Southampton Oval would be affected by the BRA's boycott.However, representatives of Bermuda Football Association (BFA), BRA, Rangers and PHC successfully defused the crisis at a meeting at BFA headquarters earlier today.“All parties reaffirmed their commitment to football recognising the ‘principle of solidarity' in preserving and protecting the ideals of football as the cornerstone of all that we do for the ‘good of the game',” read a BFA press statement.”Everyone in attendance recognised the circumstances that led to the referees' reluctance to officiate at the Southampton Rangers Sports Club. However, football is resolute in its mission and will not be deterred by the negative actions of a few.“In this regard, all parties attending the meeting resolved to increase their awareness of the football environment together with a commitment to ensure all measures will be implemented as standard operating procedures for the remaining games of the season.“It was also agreed by all parties based on the support and positive sentiments of the Bermuda Referees Association that all matches will continue as normal this coming weekend and throughout the remainder of the season at the Southampton Rangers Sports Club and all other clubs throughout Bermuda.“In making this decision, the Bermuda Football Association, on behalf of the 23 Full Member Clubs, players, officials and Referees, invite the general public to come out and support your favorite team as we draw to a close another exciting domestic season.”