REFEREES are used to making difficult calls. But this has to be the toughest one so far: Cebu’s group of referees want out of the Cebu Football Association (CFA).
A CFA insider told me about the news yesterday late afternoon, a day after the referees held a meeting on the matter.
The first tournament to be affected by the referees’ pullout threat is the Aboitiz Cup, which has prompted the CFA to acquire the services of referees from outside Cebu, such as San Carlos City, for the duration of the 11-a-side tournament that kicks off this weekend.
So what’s the deal with the breakaway?
Apparently, the referees feel they don’t have much freedom under the CFA, as it does not allow them to officiate tournaments not sanctioned by the organization.
Two weeks ago, during a futsal tournament, one of those who helped the organizers described the sanctions as “mora silag gihiktan” (similar to being tied up).
By breaking away, the referees believe they will have more room to participate in more tournaments, which translates to more needed income on their part. They also reportedly plan to form an independent organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
With the existing structure, the referees, along with the coaches and clubs, are under the CFA umbrella. So, the number of times the refs can officiate is dependent on how many tournaments the CFA organizes.
Some organizers, however, refuse to get sanctioned under the CFA, which charges from P1,500 to P4,500 sanctioning fee per tournament, depending on the number of teams.
Without the sanction, a referee under the CFA is prohibited from officiating the games. This is standard policy among legit football associations under FIFA, the world’s governing body.
But is it really necessary for an FA to stop referees from officiating non-sanctioned tournaments?
The CFA insider explained that if they allow this practice, an organizer would no longer see the need for sanctions, which are deemed necessary particularly in instilling legitimacy, order and discipline within a big organization.
“Why would organizers opt to get sanctioned with the CFA when they can get referees without paying the sanctioning fee?” he said.
Apart from their demand for fewer restrictions, the referees reportedly also feel that with its falling out with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), the “weakened” CFA can no longer offer the referees skills training and other official programs.
It also appears that the referees’ group has joined the camp that has been at odds with the CFA for the past year. This camp reportedly has established ties with PFF president Mari Martinez, who has waged war with a number of FAs all over the country, including the CFA.
The CFA is not blameless in numerous problems it has found itself in. In this latest headache, whether the CFA has fully spelled out to the referees the repercussions of their actions is one thing. Having paid real attention to their concerns is another.
The CFA insider, though, believes that the move is “political and personal.”
But is the decision of the referees to sever ties with the CFA a sound decision or a bad call?
The referees believe they can bypass CFA authority with the approval of the PFF through Martinez.
The PFF president, however, now faces the real possibility of getting removed from office. If that happens, what becomes of the referees’ “new organization” that does not adhere to the structure adopted among legitimate football associations in the country?
The referees are taking a huge gamble with this move. It also comes at a time when Philippine football is in a serious crisis of leadership.
A head of a football club in Cebu had this to say: “The referees’ actions are divisive. It does nothing to unite an already divided football community.”
(nsvillaflor@gmail.com)
Sun Star Cebu
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There are very good reasons to believe that the decision of the Cebu FA referees to walk away from their mother association is politically motivated and an unseen hand has been manipulating events.
ReplyDeleteFirst is the timing. It is too much of a coincidence that the referees decided to sever ties from CEBUFA right after the falling out of CebuFA with the PFF.
Second, the belief that the renegade group can by pass the CFA authorities with the approval of the PFF through Martinez is an insidious manipulation by none other than Martinez. If (that’s a big IF) the PFF adheres to its own governing regulations and by laws such a thing is not possible.
The PFF by laws particularly Article 9 MEMBERS’ OBLIGATIONS Letter I dictates: “NOT TO MAINTAIN ANY RELATIONS OF A SPORTING NATURE WITH ENTITIES THAT ARE NOT RECOGNIZED OR WITH MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED.” This provision likewise exists in the AFC Statutes Article 11 - Obligations of Member Associations Letter H and likewise in the present FIFA Statutes particularly Article 79 CONTACTS Paragraph 1.
In short it is a universal rule in world football which all members associations must abide. If the Cebufa referees finally decides to sever their ties with their mother provincial association then based on the PFF by laws they lose their affiliation with the PFF likewise.
Third, the perception of the referees that CFA can no longer offer the referees skills training and other official programs is not necessarily all true. Again if the CFA had a falling out with PFF, CEBUFA still remains to be a regular member of PFF and is entitled to the same rights as all other member associations. PFF IS its members PFF is NOT Martinez! It will be up to Cebufa to exercise its rights. If the Referees have this perception it’s because they are being brainwashed or mislead by Martinez. There is no doubt that Martinez is the chief architect behind the walkout.
But such perception cannot entirely be dismissed as it is not a secret that Martinez does not respect the rights of all its members and does not respect the rule of FAIR PLAY which ensures equal treatment and equal opportunities. Martinez perceived enemies or detractors are often left out from many of its official programs.
Whatever events are unfolding after the falling out of CEBUFA with the PFF is the exact maneuver that former PFF President, Miguel Romualdez used against the NCRFA. There is no mistaking and all the marking of the PFF are all over. The very same people except perhaps for the former PFF President Miguel Romualdez are manipulating the events in Cebufa and I do not believe that this will end here until such time as CFA President Montayre is unseated or starts to pay lip service to Martinez. The former Cebufa President must be very familiar with these maneuvers.
On the question raised ----is it really necessary for an FA to stop referees from officiating non-sanctioned tournaments? First of all we must understand the general world structure of football governance.
ReplyDeleteThe general world structure of football governance resembles a pyramid as explained by FIFA and its governing rules are universal. The structure is a must in order to achieve proper football management, promotion and development. All local, national and international football bodies are membership based and all football governing bodies have to ensure that their members abide by the rules and directives of the world governing body known as FIFA.
The monopolistic position in the organization of the game --- making use of regulations such as the need for a national association and other football bodies to be a member, to comply with and enforce compliance with the FIFA statutes, regulations and decisions, and to ensure or by prohibiting affiliated national associations and their members to play matches or entertain other sports contacts with associations which are not affiliated to FIFA guarantees that the layers and the monopoly of the pyramid in the organization of football are respected.
On the same note a memo released by PFF explains clearly why football events have to acquire sanction to be a recognized official event. The reasons stated in the memo are the ff:
• FAILURE TO CONSIDER THE DISCIPLINARY STATUS OF TEAMS OR PLAYERS
• FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT AN INVITED TEAM IS AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF PFF/PFA ORGANIZATION. THIS TRANSLATES TO A FAILURE TO EDUCATE TEAMS/GROUPS REGARDING THE STRUCTURE OF PHILIPPINE FOOTBALL AND THE BENEFITS OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE PFF FOOTBALL FAMILY
• FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT TOURNAMENTS ADHERE TO PROPER STANDARDS IN TERMS OF RULES AND REGULATIONS, OFFICIATING, SAFETY, SECURITY ETC.
Is it really necessary for an FA to stop referees from officiating non-sanctioned tournaments?
Official registered referees are discouraged from officiating Unaffiliated Games as there may be serious consequences such as the ff:
• If the referee is assaulted or should there be any other serious misconduct, there is no official disciplinary body that will review the misconduct and hold the offender responsible for his actions. The proper sanction or disciplinary measures may not be implemented as the offender is not bound by any of the governing rules of the official football family.
• No assessments may be accepted from games in unaffiliated leagues or any form of competition and the said referee may not be able to fulfill requirements to work a certain level of affiliated games to maintain his grade.
• It does not encourage potential members to affiliate with their respective provincial association and be part of the official football family.
There are very good reasons to believe that the decision of the Cebu FA referees to walk away from their mother association is politically motivated and an unseen hand has been manipulating events.
ReplyDeleteFirst is the timing. It is too much of a coincidence that the referees decided to sever ties from CEBUFA right after the falling out of CebuFA with the PFF.
Second, the belief that the renegade group can by pass the CFA authorities with the approval of the PFF through Martinez is an insidious manipulation by none other than Martinez. If (that’s a big IF) the PFF adheres to its own governing regulations and by laws such a thing is not possible.
The PFF by laws particularly Article 9 MEMBERS’ OBLIGATIONS Letter I dictates: “NOT TO MAINTAIN ANY RELATIONS OF A SPORTING NATURE WITH ENTITIES THAT ARE NOT RECOGNIZED OR WITH MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED.” This provision likewise exists in the AFC Statutes Article 11 - Obligations of Member Associations Letter H and likewise in the present FIFA Statutes particularly Article 79 CONTACTS Paragraph 1.
In short it is a universal rule in world football which all members associations must abide. If the Cebufa referees finally decides to sever their ties with their mother provincial association then based on the PFF by laws they lose their affiliation with the PFF likewise.
Third, the perception of the referees that CFA can no longer offer the referees skills training and other official programs is not necessarily all true. Again if the CFA had a falling out with PFF, CEBUFA still remains to be a regular member of PFF and is entitled to the same rights as all other member associations. PFF IS its members PFF is NOT Martinez! It will be up to Cebufa to exercise its rights. If the Referees have this perception it’s because they are being brainwashed or mislead by Martinez. There is no doubt that Martinez is the chief architect behind the walkout.
But such perception cannot entirely be dismissed as it is not a secret that Martinez does not respect the rights of all its members and does not respect the rule of FAIR PLAY which ensures equal treatment and equal opportunities. Martinez perceived enemies or detractors are often left out from many of its official programs.
Whatever events are unfolding after the falling out of CEBUFA with the PFF is the exact maneuver that former PFF President, Miguel Romualdez used against the NCRFA. There is no mistaking and all the marking of the PFF are all over. The very same people except perhaps for the former PFF President Miguel Romualdez are manipulating the events in Cebufa and I do not believe that this will end here until such time as CFA President Montayre is unseated or starts to pay lip service to Martinez. The former Cebufa President must be very familiar with these maneuvers.