(This is my Fair Play column for Sun.Star Cebu on Feb. 6)
I GOT an interesting e-mail the other day about the consequences for teams that withdraw from PFF-organized national tournaments and its corresponding sanctions.
I guess, it�s time to play Devil�s Advocate.
For PFF-organized events, there are four types of withdrawals�after confirming participation but before grouping or scheduling takes place, after regional finals but before grouping in nationals, after the grouping in the nationals, and in the course of the national competition.
For the first type, it�s a P5,000 fine. The second type doesn�t mention a penalty, the third type earns a P10,000 fine and a suspension from THAT PARTICULAR tournament, the fourth type earns a P15,000 fine, payment for expenses incurred by the PFF and host, and a one-year suspension from THAT PARTICULAR tournament.
And the clincher? The footie fan who e-mailed me highlighted that you only refer to the PFF catalogue of punishment for violent incidents, not withdrawals. And I�m pretty sure violence against egos doesn�t count.
By the way, I�ve finally read the full texts of the exchanges between Springdale and the Cebu Football Association regarding this issue and you know what? If it wants to, Springdale can still play and coach Mario Ceniza will have a valid point if he questions the ban.
The thing is, the CFA went by the book with this�forfeit and the ban�so Springdale should be able to pore through the same book for a technicality, right?
And there are loads.
The decision penalizes Springdale Football Club, and since it�s the club--not the school and players--that was mentioned, the Springdale FC can easily dissolve itself, put up the Springdale Soccer School (Hey, triple S!) and compete in CFA events, even next week�s Thirsty Cup.
If it wants to keep using the name, Springdale FC can question why the CFA imposed a ban for all CFA activities, when in the ruling he cited, Disciplinary Committee chairman Richard Montayre, (who�s also the CFA president by the way), quoted, �...sanctions of up to three years or up to lifetime tournament ban for coaches, players.....can be imposed.�
I GOT an interesting e-mail the other day about the consequences for teams that withdraw from PFF-organized national tournaments and its corresponding sanctions.
I guess, it�s time to play Devil�s Advocate.
For PFF-organized events, there are four types of withdrawals�after confirming participation but before grouping or scheduling takes place, after regional finals but before grouping in nationals, after the grouping in the nationals, and in the course of the national competition.
For the first type, it�s a P5,000 fine. The second type doesn�t mention a penalty, the third type earns a P10,000 fine and a suspension from THAT PARTICULAR tournament, the fourth type earns a P15,000 fine, payment for expenses incurred by the PFF and host, and a one-year suspension from THAT PARTICULAR tournament.
And the clincher? The footie fan who e-mailed me highlighted that you only refer to the PFF catalogue of punishment for violent incidents, not withdrawals. And I�m pretty sure violence against egos doesn�t count.
By the way, I�ve finally read the full texts of the exchanges between Springdale and the Cebu Football Association regarding this issue and you know what? If it wants to, Springdale can still play and coach Mario Ceniza will have a valid point if he questions the ban.
The thing is, the CFA went by the book with this�forfeit and the ban�so Springdale should be able to pore through the same book for a technicality, right?
And there are loads.
The decision penalizes Springdale Football Club, and since it�s the club--not the school and players--that was mentioned, the Springdale FC can easily dissolve itself, put up the Springdale Soccer School (Hey, triple S!) and compete in CFA events, even next week�s Thirsty Cup.
If it wants to keep using the name, Springdale FC can question why the CFA imposed a ban for all CFA activities, when in the ruling he cited, Disciplinary Committee chairman Richard Montayre, (who�s also the CFA president by the way), quoted, �...sanctions of up to three years or up to lifetime tournament ban for coaches, players.....can be imposed.�
Three years to life time tournament ban, not three years to lifetime ban for all tournaments. (Smiley face here).
As for Coach Mario, he could question why he should be punished when the decision to withdraw from the tournament was not his. The letter of withdrawal was written by school director Ric R. Ampiloquio.
Yep, they could go that route.
But I�ve always hated it when sports folks get technical.
Like I said, this issue makes next month�s CFA general election�which has almost been forgotten�a very interesting exercise.
Folks have taken the elections for granted for so long that I don�t think anybody knows how many positions are available.
There are basically three �players� in the Cebu football scene, the sitting board members, the Don Bosco group and the CAFC group and for me,
I don�t want the next president to come from any of them.
I want the next president to be able to thread through the different factions without losing sight of the big picture, I want the next president to be able to bridge the new admin and the soon-to-be former admin (who has projects worthy of being continued), and I don�t want the next president to be tied down the way the sitting president has been.
He doesn�t exist? Well, we will see.
CAFC has done great things for Cebu football, and so too, has the CFA. If these two groups were not at each other�s throat, who knows? CAFC�s pet tournament�the annual interclub�could have been a lot bigger and CFA�s grassroots program in the province would have had the logistics it needed.
Can you just imagine what these two groups could have done for Cebu football if not for factionalism?
Now, tell me. Wouldn�t you want a president who can thread through the factions in Cebu football and not lose sight of the overall picture?
He doesn�t exist?
For all our sakes, I hope he does.
And I hope, he�s willing to take the job.
As for Coach Mario, he could question why he should be punished when the decision to withdraw from the tournament was not his. The letter of withdrawal was written by school director Ric R. Ampiloquio.
Yep, they could go that route.
But I�ve always hated it when sports folks get technical.
Like I said, this issue makes next month�s CFA general election�which has almost been forgotten�a very interesting exercise.
Folks have taken the elections for granted for so long that I don�t think anybody knows how many positions are available.
There are basically three �players� in the Cebu football scene, the sitting board members, the Don Bosco group and the CAFC group and for me,
I don�t want the next president to come from any of them.
I want the next president to be able to thread through the different factions without losing sight of the big picture, I want the next president to be able to bridge the new admin and the soon-to-be former admin (who has projects worthy of being continued), and I don�t want the next president to be tied down the way the sitting president has been.
He doesn�t exist? Well, we will see.
CAFC has done great things for Cebu football, and so too, has the CFA. If these two groups were not at each other�s throat, who knows? CAFC�s pet tournament�the annual interclub�could have been a lot bigger and CFA�s grassroots program in the province would have had the logistics it needed.
Can you just imagine what these two groups could have done for Cebu football if not for factionalism?
Now, tell me. Wouldn�t you want a president who can thread through the factions in Cebu football and not lose sight of the overall picture?
He doesn�t exist?
For all our sakes, I hope he does.
And I hope, he�s willing to take the job.
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