Bermuda Football Association president Larry Mussenden last night distanced himself from comments made by executive Fred (Pinks) Lewis who claimed last week that Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and CONCACAF officials ?took care of their own? during last month?s ill-fated Digicel Cup tournament in St. Vincent.

Lewis lashed out at tournament match commissioner Neville Ferguson for not mentioning in his match report a verbal request made by Bermuda for an investigation into allegations that British Virgin Islands (BVI) fielded ineligible players ? despite ?assuring? the Island?s touring delegation he would do so.

Bermuda?s pleas fell on deaf ears as Ferguson never included that request in reports he later submitted to CONCACAF and FIFA.

?People always talk about how we are related to the Islands and all that. But when it comes to sports we are considered as outsiders and they don?t look after us. . . they only look after their own,? Lewis, head delegate of Bermuda?s touring entourage, told last Friday.

However, Mussenden moved swiftly last night to set the record straight in an attempt to avoid souring relations with the Island?s Caribbean neighbours.

?Mr.Lewis in the recent article spoke about the series of events that took place as a result of him being head delegate of the team. In the article he referred to the facts and also gave his opinion of some of the people that were involved from the Caribbean side,? said the BFA chief.

?That was his personal opinion. However, his personal views are not the view of Bermuda Football Association. The BFA is a member of the Caribbean Football Union as well as CONCACAF and FIFA. On a regular basis we communicate, work with and compete with and are family with CONCACAF.

?What the BFA will not do is make remarks about people personally or about how they tend to get along with other people ? in particular that ?the match commissioner is one of Jack Warner?s (FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president) boys?. That comment is not something the BFA will associate itself with. Those remarks are not the kind of remarks we would think about nor would we say.?

Mussenden said CONCACAF, in particular president Jack Warner, had ?always had the Island?s best interests at heart.? ?The BFA have the greatest respect for Mr.Warner. Mr.Warner has had Bermuda?s best interests at heart for many years and one disagreement certainly won?t undermine that,? he continued.

?We recognise the role of match commissioners throughout the region and we would never seek to undermine their position or authority.

?While Bermuda might not have had its way in this particular segment of the competition, it does not undermine our support and participation in football in our regional and worldwide bodies. And we look forward to further participation in tournaments although we recognise there is a need to address some of the matters which were raised by the appropriate authorities.

?We recognise our positive role in participation in tournaments and in the administration of football throughout the Caribbean and the CONCACAF region and we also recognise we will have differences of opinion and, at times, disagree with things,? said Mussenden, adding: ?This is not a rebuke to Mr.Lewis. It?s just a clarification of what is his opinion and what is the position of the BFA.?