An experienced Bermuda referee believes fans are largely to blame for the disciplinary problems affecting soccer this season.

Arthur Furqan said abuse from spectators incited bad behaviour among players and caused games to boil over.

His comments came in the week that saw seven players sent off in six top-level domestic fixtures -- four in five Premier Division games on Sunday and another three in Tuesday's Friendship Trophy clash between Dandy Town and PHC.

"The fans are worse than I have ever seen them and I wouldn't want to take my family to watch a match now,'' said Furqan, who has been refereeing since 1991.

"The players are fine, but they can hear everything the fans are saying and that has a big impact on games. It puts a lot of pressure on players -- the fans want everything and they want it yesterday.

"Of course, there are a few players going from bad to worse, but most of them don't get involved with trouble.

"Refereeing is harder now than when I started and sometimes you go out there hoping the fans don't show up.

"I think it's just a minority of die-hards who cause the trouble, people who have been watching their team for years and never want to see them lose.

"They seem to think that if they can intimidate people enough, they can help their team, but they cause a lot of problems. I know a lot of other referees feel the same way, because we are always talking about it.'' Fans' comments were becoming more aggressive, said Furqan, and some occasionally threw missiles.

"Once I felt something hit me on the field. I don't know what it was but it was sure more than a bottle top,'' said the referee. "A couple of years ago, you would hear someone saying they would throw a bottle at you now and again.

I suppose they just try to grab your attention. But they would not actually do it. Now it is more threatening. But you just have to ignore them.'' Furqan was in charge of perhaps the season's most volatile fixture so far, the First Division clash between Somerset Eagles and Ireland Rangers at White Hill Field on November 7.

The West End grudge match was abandoned after a brawl among the players, which followed Furqan's decision to disallow an Eagles goal.

Eagles' Ruffins Hill, who was banned for three years, and Jelani Butterfield, suspended for the rest of the season, were among five players subsequently punished by the BFA's Disciplinary Committee.

Furqan said of the ill-fated fixture: "That was the fans getting involved. I had the game totally under control, but the fans incited the players.

"Down at Somerset, some people seem to think that people from one side of the bridge are better than people from the other side. So the fans really don't want to lose and that gets through to the players.

"I made a minor mistake in that game, but it was magnified out of proportion by the fans.'' Furqan appealed to everybody involved in the game to be more understanding with match officials.

"I think it would help if people knew the rules of the game -- and I'm talking about players and coaches as well as fans,'' he said.

"Everybody makes mistakes, including referees. And fans should understand that whatever happens on the pitch, the referee is only making the decision on what he sees.''