Town, centre-half Troy Durham was yesterday banned from all competitive soccer in Bermuda for the rest of his life.

The punishment, which was meted out during a disciplinary meeting on Wednesday night, is believed to be the severest handed down in the history of the Bermuda Football Association.

Initially it was understood that Durham had been charged with assaulting linesman Peter Sousa, having allegedly punched him on the back of the head after he was sent off during Sunday's First Division game between Dandy Town and Devonshire Colts at Frog Lane Field.

But The Royal Gazette learned yesterday that the player was also accused of spitting at referee Rex Osborne when he was shown the red card. And it's believed this incident was also taken into consideration when BFA disciplinary committee members discussed the punishment.

Durham is understood to have stayed away from the meeting.

Dandy Town officials and the BFA were last night unwilling to comment on the matter, but Director of Referees Aldwyn Savery reckoned that the lengthy suspension appeared to be "justified''.

"The BFA's disciplinary committee has sent out a strong message which will be reassuring to referees. And I know that the officials involved in the incident feel that the action taken was prompt and adequate and will not be pursuing the matter any further,'' said Savery.

"I personally am not at all surprised about the term that was given. I would have been disappointed if the sentence wasn't as severe as it turned out to be. The punishment seems quite justified.'' The sentence was far more excessive than the three-year ban that Winston (Bummy) Martin of Devonshire Cougars received earlier in the month for punching referee Gernot Wilkie.

It is thought the fact that Bermuda Referees' Association filed an appeal against the length of Martin's suspension may have influenced the committee to send a stronger message when Durham's case was heard.

The appeal against Martin's ban was adjourned early this week after the legitimacy of entertaining an appeal was questioned by the committee members.

It is believed that the BFA's lawyers are looking into the matter further.

In the case of the Martin ban, the referees are known to be concerned that a player with a history of bad behaviour can be allowed to come back at 41 years old and play in the Commercial Division.

Meanwhile, another soccer controversy between the BFA and Devonshire Colts cooled yesterday with the club deciding against making a press statement about their grievances over the management of the Under-23 national team concerning the release of players.

It is believed that the club are about to pursue the matter further with the assistance of their lawyers.

Nelson Bascome, president of Devonshire Colts, would not commit himself yesterday when asked about their current position over the matter.

"It's being investigated, that's all we are prepared to say right now,'' he said.

Bermuda this week learned that their opponents in the first round of the Olympic soccer competition will be Costa Rica, with the matches scheduled to be played on April 15 and December 12, 1995.

Should they win that two-leg tie they would then qualify for the final qualifying round which will see six teams play in Canada in May, 1996.

Troy Durham