Bermuda Football Association (BFA) president Richard Calderon has blasted clubs allowing players known to engage in "anti-social" behaviour to represent them and as such are a "high risk" to fans, coaches, opponents and team-mates alike.

Breaking his silence in the aftermath of last Sunday's incident at Southampton Oval where as many as five youths bombarded a bus carrying Boulevard players with bottles and other projectiles, Calderon said the time had come for clubs to adopt a zero tolerance towards a social problem that continues to plague local football.

"Why is it that you can go to some clubs without incident? Why is it that some teams can travel freely across this island without incident and without the need for added security?

"You don't have to look to far to find the answer," he said, in a BFA press release.

"It is no secret that a few players in certain teams cannot travel without the real possibility of being at risk.

"The appropriate question that should be asked is why certain clubs, knowing what they know about several of their players, continue to allow them to be members of their team and in doing so put the entire squad, coaches, fans and opposition at risk."

A BFA study has revealed that there are some players who are involved in "anti-social behaviour" and others suspected of indulging themselves in "gang-like activities" off the pitch.

"It's no secret that football matches have been plagued by acts of anti-social behaviour over the past several years. The BFA have through its Strategic Plan identiified the root causes of some of the problems and have created and put into motion initiatives that will and have already had some impact on lowering the number of incidences," Calderon added.

To help combat violence at local football grounds, the BFA have proposed to establish a database of all known troublemakers, conduct thorough back ground checks on coaches, players and administrators as well as installing security surveillance cameras at club venues.

"Our Security Committee have and continue to work very closely with the Bermuda Police Department, security firms and the club in a concerted attempt to manage this real problem. But the BFA can only do so much and we need the assistance of the clubs to control areas that they can control," Calderon said.

Earlier this week it was learned that last weekend's Premier Division match involving Rangers and Boulevard at the Oval was not classified as "high risk" - despite the potential for violence to rear its ugly head between rival factions from the town and country areas.

"In the case of the match in question the BFA were not officially notified that this was to be considered an "at risk" match," Calderon said.

However, Boulevard Community Club (BCC) president Steven Proctor - who also serves on the BFA executive - disagrees.

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

Meanwhile, it was learned yesterday that a Warwick man has been banned "indefinitely" from the premises of Southampton Rangers Sports Club after being singled out as one of the culprits alleged to have been involved in last weekend's incident at Southampton Oval. "We have identified three people and have banned one of them indefinitely so far," Rangers president Randy Raynor confirmed.

"There were many witnesses who saw this particular individual engage in anti-social behaviour after the match and the club has since taken what they feel is the appropriate action."

According to Raynor, all those involved in the attack on the Boulevard bus are to be notified of disciplinary action taken against them by the club via written correspondence which is to be copied and forwarded to Police and the BFA.

Raynor added: "We at Rangers do not tolerate any of this sort of behaviour and we firmly believe people should be able to come to a game and enjoy the atmosphere with their families and friends and then leave without any harm being done to them – whether you are cheering for Rangers or anybody else."