with the Bermuda Football Association outlining steps to hold formal meetings with the clubs.

The body will also press for further discussions to take place with many other relevant organisations and Government in the days ahead.

The plans were disclosed in a three-page letter released to the clubs yesterday in which the BFA said they needed assistance and guidance from the community at large to overcome the problem.

The letter, signed by president Neville Tyrrell, claimed violence was not restricted to soccer alone. Tyrrell claimed it was a "social problem'' that needed the full support of the community to resolve.

When contacted yesterday for comment, Tyrrell said that the BFA felt that it was necessary to make the statement because of the negativity that the sport was getting as the result of a handful of players.

"I felt that is was necessary to make a bold enough statement at this time to let the public know that, while we are going to deal with it these issues when they happen, at the same we want to cry out to the community and say let's get together on this issue, everybody,' said Tyrrell.

"One of the things I think I need to stress is that for too long people in the country have assumed that football has created this violence problem.

"I believe, yes the sport is a contact sport, but none of the laws are designed on violence, it's as simple as that.

"We have people who come into our sport who have a variety of baggage with them and a lot of this baggage is created as a result of a lot of the social ills.

"As soon as people hear about a flare among players, it's assumed by many that this doesn't happen in any other area of our lives.

"We are trying to control every aspect of our playing of football in Bermuda, but for people to think that it's just a football problem is unfair. We have a generation of people who have a lack of respect for everything and its regrettably showing up in football.'' In the letter the BFA questions the reluctance of former players to offer their help, claiming that the "founding fathers of soccer'' must be disappointed with the current state of affairs. Sports Mailbox, Page 15