Soccer clubs may wish to consider bringing their own security officers to matches in a bid to prevent outbreaks of violence between supporters and their players, the head of the Bermuda Football Association has declared.

The suggestion from BFA president Neville Tyrrell follows a threat from the Island's referees to boycott matches if there are any more incidents of violence at local games.

So far this season there have been two outbreaks of trouble, one in the Martonmere Cup clash between Somerset and North Village in which fans attacked the Trojans coach and a player after a sending off and most recently when bottles were thrown following the awarding of a penalty in the league clash between Devonshire Cougars and Devonshire Colts.

It has been suggested by club officials and referees that it is all too easy for fans to aim abuse, be it physical or verbal, at players.

Addressing this, Tyrrell said: "If clubs are so much concerned about the security aspect, why don't they provide security for their own players? Bring your own security on a personal level.'' Responsibility also fell upon security staff at individual grounds, he said.

"In terms of beefing up security this is something again we have been impressing upon field operators. They need to take some note of this because anything can happen.

"Of course I know the answer is going to be `someone brought that bottle in' if there was a bottle thrown, they will swear it wasn't sold over their bar.

So how do we do anything about it?'' Referring to the official's threat of boycott, Tyrrell said he fully understood Referees Association president Lyndon Raynor's concerns.

"I agree with his position that these guys really don't need to be subjected to this sort of abuse,'' he said.

"The fact we are really light on numbers is really annoying me because we have so few referees as it is. Obviously if one or two decide they are going to go and the others go it means we are further depleted and I'm really annoyed about it. There are people basically chasing what we have out.'' Tyrrell said despite the obstacles, the BFA was continually striving to boost the numbers of officials on its books.

"We just can't encourage people to be referees. I have people telling me, `I would very much like to be a referee but my friends are telling me I would be crazy if I go out there in the middle to take the abuse','' he said.

"That's the answer right there. There are people who are willing to do it but they are not willing to take that sort of abuse.

"The only thing we can do is to continue to encourage,'' he said.

"Even those ones who complain about the referees -- ask them to do it. But of course they come up with all sorts of excuses as to why they don't want to referee.''