Commercial League footballer Stephen Pett could have a one-year ban overturned because of an alleged conflict of interest involving a high-ranking Bermuda Football Association (BFA) official who took part in his recent disciplinary hearing.

The Tuff Dogs' player is alleged to have used foul and abusive language at referee Wendy Woodley and refused to leave the pitch after receiving his marching orders during a December, 2008, Commercial Division Knockout Cup match.

According to sources, BFA executive Lee Holder was present at the match and assisted referee Woodley during a penalty shoot-out after Tuff Dogs and Somerset Extros remained level at the end of extra-time in their clash at St.John's Field.

He is also understood to have been directly involved in Pett's disciplinary hearing held earlier this month which may have constituted a conflict of interest.

Holder could not be reached for comment while Pett has declined to speak about the issue before his case goes before a BFA Appeals Committee.

According to Tuff Dogs' sources, Pett denies verbally abusing ref Woodley and that he was acting as coach of his team at the time of the alleged offences. He has also reportedly accused Woodley of making false statements in her match report and of having an axe to grind with his team because of previous run-ins between the two.

The Royal Gazette recently revealed that Pett, St. David's coach/manager Kameron Fox and St.George's Colts footballer Mackie Crane are all currently serving BFA -imposed bans ranging from three matches to a year.

Fox received a three-game suspension for using foul and abusive language and refusing to leave the bench after being ejected by the referee during a First Division Dudley Eve match at Devonshire Recreation Club last December.

Crane received a six-match ban for verbally abusing and displaying threatening behaviour towards Woodley during last month's First Division Dudley Eve final.

Earlier this season Devonshire Colts' coach and BFA administrator Ray Jones was banned for two years on appeal for a verbal spat with referee Ronue Cann, prompting a clampdown by local football's governing body on referee abuse in all its various forms.

"The point can't be made strongly enough that we must adopt a zero tolerance for any negative behaviour directed towards referees," said BFA general secretary David Sabir.

n The BFA would neither confirm nor deny this week that St.George's Colts' players Allan Douglas jr and Jelani Carlington are serving lengthy suspensions.

Sources informed The Gazette that Douglas, who has been stripped of the captaincy of Colts, is serving a one-year ban and ordered to attend anger management sessions while Carlington has been banned for six months.