Local authorities remained in the dark yesterday after hearing that the seven Bermuda soccer players had pleaded no contest to drug possession charges in Miami.

The Under-23 players were -- through an agreement between their lawyer Mr.

H.T. Smith and prosecutor Mr. David Weinstein -- able to secure their freedom.

They are expected to arrive on the Island this weekend.

But neither the Bermuda Football Association nor US officials in Bermuda could shed any light on the players's future in soccer nor travel to the US, respectively.

Deputy US Consulate Officer Mr. Steve Kish said he could not say whether the players would be placed on the US stop list.

"I don't know the answer to that,'' he told The Royal Gazette . "I think we have to see exactly what the circumstances were in coming to that agreement.'' Generally speaking, Mr. Kish said in cases where there is an acquittal, the standard procedure is for the US Consul Office to go to the US State Department with the particulars of the case.

The State Department then will issue an "advisory opinion'' and in conjunction with the US Immigration Department they will decide whether the individual will be placed on the stop list.

When asked about the status of a provisional ruling by CONCACAF, in conjunction with FIFA, that would have banned Bermuda's Under-23 squad from all soccer activities for two years if any of the seven players were found guilty, BFA administrator Mr. David Sabir said: "I think it's only appropriate that the BFA reserve comment until such time as more information is made available to us.''