another club official had plenty to say on the matter yesterday.

After making it clear he was not speaking on behalf of the club, Red Devils assistant coach Robert Calderon questions whether the BFA acted within the guidelines pertaining to the release of players for national association representative matches as laid down by FIFA.

Calderon referred to a copy of the regulations governing the status and transfer of a player to support his claim that the club does have some argument against the decision to suspend the national team goalkeeper.

He questioned whether the Technical Director of Coaching, Burkhard Ziese, had the right to tell Adams he could not travel abroad on personal business 23 days prior to the upcoming friendly with the United States B team.

"In conversations with Streaker (Adams) he was told he could not go until April 1 which is in violation of Article 35, Section 4 which lays down the period of release, allowing for training time,'' said Calderon.

Article 35, Section 4 of the new version of the regulations which was distributed to national associations affiliated with FIFA on January 6 and received by the BFA nine days later reads: "The period of release shall allow for training time. The extent of this time shall be laid down as follows: (a) for a friendly international match: 48 hours; (b) for a qualifying match for an international competition: five days, including the day of the match; (c) for the final competition of an international competition: 14 days.'' In any event a player is obliged to arrive at the match venue at least 48 hours before kick-off.

With that in mind, Calderon says even allowing for the most important match in the above category -- an international final -- Adams' absence still fell outside the time frame.

"This happened on the fifth and seventh of March, so based on this -- the FIFA rules and regulations -- Streaker, if he so chooses, could not be forced to report for international competition of the highest magnitude until 14 days prior and the BFA does not have anything to enforce,'' said Calderon.

Calderon also said he found it interesting when BFA president Charlie Marshall said in a radio talk show yesterday that they had written off to FIFA for `further clarification'.

Calderon insists the club's decision to play Adams in Sunday's critical league match with Dandy Town was not made to defy the association.

"My biggest fear is that people think we are trying to take on the BFA for the sake of taking on the BFA, but we deserve the right to have clear legislation and decisions coming out of the BFA,'' said Calderon.

"Under what jurisdiction does he (Ziese) have to say he (Adams) can't go away 23 days before a match? Even if the rules support the BFA why would a person want to be so stringent before a friendly international.

"There is absolutely no importance in this match that a player can't miss two training sessions.'' Calderon added the club could not afford to wait on a BFA ruling, probably at the end of the season, which would affect their championship hopes.

"He is the only goalkeeper we have with Carlyle Crockwell injured. We could not wait for the BFA to make a further decision or get further clarification, the season would be over.'' Calderon, as a former Bermuda captain and also an assistant under Gary Darrell during Bermuda's World Cup campaign two years ago, says he is both supportive of what Ziese is trying to do with the programme and concerned about the issue of national pride and loyalty.

"But you cannot legislate loyalty,'' he said. "If you make the programme proper they'll come. Mr. Ziese, based on his reputation, has the ability to make a proper programme, but give it some time.

"The idea is for the player to turn up and want to play. Otherwise, you don't have a player involved emotionally, which is a critical aspect. When you try to mandate and legislate you run the risk of not getting a happy player.

"The law clearly states that for a friendly match 48 hours is the maximum period they can actually force a player to respond to the call for training.

"You can't have coaches in the national programme calling training sessions `willy nilly' that would disrupt the domestic programme. They have to comply to the rules and regulationas as laid down by FIFA.'' Added Calderon: "My understanding is the club is very adamant they have very strong footing and there is a strong belief amongst the members of the club that they are in a good standing with the rules as they were distributed to the affiliates.'' Adams, when contacted last night, declined comment on the matter. "I'm leaving it in the hands of North Village, I'll let them decide,'' he said.

DWAYNE ADAMS -- Caught in the middle.