Ex-CFA top ref hits football body

Majority of the Cebu football referees have separated from the Cebu Football Association (CFA) and decided to form their own independent group.

Ruben Remedio, long-time president of the Cebu football referees, confirmed the move saying they have formalized the break-off with the CFA last month.

“We have decided to be independent of the CFA because we no longer understand its current administration. We no longer want to be handled by them, we don't agree with some of their rules,” Remedio said.

One of the things the referees are not in agreement with the CFA is the collection of sanction fees from tournament organizers. He said he does not understand is why the CFA would not allow them to officiate in a tournament whose organizer cannot pay the sanction fee.

“We are here for the development of football so we should be allowed to officiate whether or not the organizer pays the sanction fee,” Remedio said.

He also cited unexplained money issues such as being made to pay P100 for identification cards which not all received.

Remedio also laments the fact that there is no development or growth for Cebu referees because they are not included in the seminars conducted by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) being associated with the CFA.

The CFA and the PFF has an ongoing disagreement which stemmed from money issues.Remedio said they would come up with their own by laws. He also relinquished his role as president, opting to be the group's adviser. The Cebu referees currently have Michael Culibra as its officer-in-charge.

CFA president Richard Montayre confirmed the separation saying that they have made the referees sign that they are no longer under the CFA.

The reason for this is because there cannot be two groups of football referees. A handful of the referees have decided to stay with the CFA.

According to Montayre, a group of referees which is not under a football association is not recognized because no one can penalize them if they commit mistakes. It is also not possible for them to be directly under the PFF, he said.

Cebu Daily News