St David’s have lost an appeal against a lengthy ban imposed on Detroy Smith, their midfielder, by the Bermuda Football Association (BFA).

Smith received a five-year ban for spitting at referee and BFA executive Anthony Francis during a Friendship Trophy match at Wellington Oval last December.

The 28-year-old was issued the ban by the BFA’s disciplinary committee in January which was then upheld by the Association’s appeals committee during a hearing in February.

“I can confirm that St David’s did appeal the suspension issued by the BFA disciplinary committee,” David Sabir, the BFA general secretary, said. “Such an appeal was denied and the original sanction from the disciplinary committee will remain.”

Otis Minors, the St David’s president, did not return calls yesterday.

Smith spat on the back of Francis’s shirt after he was sent off.

Francis promptly halted proceedings after the unsavoury incident, which provoked widespread disgust among the football community, and headed to the changing rooms with the intention of abandoning the tie. He was eventually persuaded to return to the field and resume the match by BFA colleagues.

Larry Mussenden, the BFA president, said that Smith’s hefty ban sent out a clear message that anti-social behaviour on the pitch would not be tolerated.

“There is no excuse regardless of the circumstances that should bring a player or any person for that matter of fact to such action whether on or off the field,” Mussenden said. “Spitting is a serious offence in a civilised society, in particular, the sport of football that promotes fair play and respect for each other.”

Smith is not the first player to be banned for spitting at Francis. In 2007, Boulevard midfielder Melchisedec Gibbons spat at the referee during a Dudley Eve match at Somerset Cricket Club after receiving a red card. Gibbons was banned for one year.