sports clubs to curb drug use amongst spectators.

The Shadow Education spokesman leant support to the Education Department PE head Clinton Smith who said that marijuana use at football matches was `so open that it was just like Amsterdam'.

Last night the Shadow Minister told The Royal Gazette that Government incentives of up to six figures should be given to hard-up clubs to pay for Policing of football matches and tighten security elsewhere.

He said: "They need to make perimeters more secure. At some clubs it is completely destroyed -anyone can get in.'' Mr. Smith said Police were not obliged to monitor matches because they were on private property but clubs could use the Government cash incentives to pay to bring them in.

He said Police could spot offenders, with the aid of cameras also paid from the incentive cash, and then arrest them outside the ground to avoid inciting other elements of the crowd into mob violence.

"The message needs to go out that drugs will not be tolerated. When people are charged it will send a message that you will be arrested if you have drugs at sporting events.

"We want to encourage families to return to sporting events.'' In February the Shadow Education spokesman had claimed some sports clubs were benefiting directly from the drugs trade at their venues.

But he later said the benefit was indirect as clubs took gate fees and bar money from those involved in drugs.

He praised Clinton Smith's stand in attacking drug use at football matches which he said could eventually kill the game. "I sensed a real desperation in Clinton Smith's comments,'' he said.

"Clubs tolerate the abuse on their property, the Police feel powerless, sports governing bodies disagree on the approach to be taken and Government is not offering any leadership on the subject.

"Other than Mr. Smith, no one is taking a leadership role in communicating to our younger sports people that substance abuse is wrong.

The United Bermuda Party MP added: "We all know that drugs enslave the mind and destroy the soul.''