THE Ceres-Negros team and Iloilo Football Association are set for their final battle in the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Suzuki U23 National Cup on May 19 and 22.
But serious concerns are still up and undecided.
This refers to the standing petition filed by the National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA) against Iloilo for fielding two unregistered players in the tournament.
In his letter to PFF Secretary General Ramon Manuel, NCRFA president Atty. Rolando Tunay cited that the two Iloilo players, namely Mark Anthony Ferrer and Peter Sobredo, should not been fielded in the final rounds of the tournament because the rules of the game provide so.
Ferrer and Sobredo were not officially registered with the U23 Iloilo Team or any of the other four provincial teams that played in the Visayas Regional qualifying rounds. Thus, these players are not entitled to play during the national finals, Tunay explained.
Tunay further said that, in the spirit of fair play and to preserve the integrity of the tournament, the PFF should take immediate action on their complaint.
If the Iloilo Football Team violated the rules set forth by the PFF, they should have forfeited their games.
Meanwhile, Negros Team assistant coach Ramon Janeo confirmed that the NCRFA�s complaint has strong basis.
The rules in the U23 football tournament states that the list of the 18 players in a football team must be submitted to the organizing committee and all players must be eligible to play. Moreover, it states that a team may submit 20 players but only 18 will be considered as official players.
But until now the PFF has not yet taken action on the complaint. The NCRFA were only told by the PFF that they will study the complaints submitted. However, according to Janeo, it seems the complaint was ignored, Janeo said.
This has unsettled not only the NCR and the Negros teams but all those who participated in the tournament.
The finals between Negros and Iloilo begin on Thursday, but it is unfair to allow unregistered players to suit up for Iloilo, he said.
If the matter is unsatisfactorily resolved, this could affect the integrity of the national football games with some teams possibly pulling out and declining to participate in future national competitions, Janeo concluded.
On the other hand, other football team officials that took part in the tournament believed that the PFF and its officials are purposely delaying their decision on the complaint because of the reports that they are allegedly �favoring� the Iloilo U23 Football Team because of the alleged connection of PFF president Mariano Araneta to the Iloilo FA.
Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on May 17, 2011.
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