St David’s have banned Detroy Smith for ten games for spitting on referee Anthony Francis during the Friendship Trophy semi-final against Somerset Trojans on Boxing Day.

In being as good as their word, after Kenneth Bascome, the manager, labelled the incident as an “embarrassment” to the club and vowed that the appropriate action would be taken, St David’s have pre-empted the Bermuda Football Association, the game’s governing body, which has remained silent eight days after an unseemly episode that shocked onlookers at Wellington Oval.

Otis Minors, the St David’s president and also a player in the match, confirmed the club’s disciplinary action, which also includes a one-year probation for the midfielder, who spat on Francis after he was sent off in the 80th minute with Somerset leading 3-2.

“As the president of the club, we don’t want our players bringing the game into disrepute or showing any sort of violent conduct towards any officials,” said Minors, who also took issue with the way the referee handled the match.

“That’s speaking as the president. But speaking as a player who was there and watched the whole incident unfold, I thought both parties were at fault. The way he [Francis] was talking to the players, it was like he was looking for something to happen, meaning that, because he was in charge, ‘I’m going to say what I can to you, but you can’t say what you want to me.’?”

Minors added: “Every time he said something, I was there, so it wasn’t hearsay. I was trying to keep my players calm, but then I couldn’t say anything to the ref because then I would get a caution for it. I just think he abused his authority as an official.”

A visibly upset Francis stopped the match with the intention of abandoning it after the spitting incident, but was eventually persuaded to return by David Sabir and Cal Blankendal, the BFA officials, and Stuart Crockwell, the acting match commissioner. The St David’s players, who had by that time returned to the dressing room, also had to be talked into returning to complete the match, which Somerset won to reach the final.

Sabir, the BFA general secretary, could not be reached for comment as to how far the governing body’s inquiry has progressed, or even if it has begun.

However, the action taken by St David’s means that Smith will miss the rest of the season unless they have a good run in the FA Cup.

“I have spoken to him,” Minors said of Smith, who transferred across the parish from St George’s last summer, “He is very sorry that the incident took place and we’re not standing by his actions at all.

“The club is not going to tolerate anybody bringing the game into disrepute. If you are out of order, the club will deal with you in the proper way. We know the BFA will take action also and we are very prepared for that.”