DISQUALIFIED PLAYERS
Even before the semifinals started in Iloilo Sunday, the National Capital Region has filed a protest against two players of the host team – Mark Anthony Ferrer and Peter Sobredo – who were not registered during the National Final Rounds.
In a letter addressed to Ramon Manuel, Philippine Football Federation General Secretary, NCR Football Association president lawyer Roland Tulay pointed out that Ferrer and Sobredo were not officially registered with the U23 Iloilo Team or any other four provincial teams during the Visayas Regional Qualifying Rounds in Dumaguete on April 15-19.
Acting on the complaint filed by the NCR, tournament coordinator Red Avelino said the two players were declared not qualified to join the Iloilo team in the semifinals and the finals.
The results during the quarterfinals where the two players were fielded, including the 7-0 win of Iloilo over the NCR Team A, will remain as it is since the games were not under-protest, Avelino said.
In Sunday’s semifinal game between Iloilo and NCR Team B, the Ilonggos nipped the UAAP-loaded NCR Team B, 2-1, without Ferrer and Sobredo in the roster.
The two players will not also be allowed to play in the finals and Iloilo, instead, will be playing with the lineup it fielded in the Visayas regionals in Dumaguete, Avelino added.*NAB
Visayan Daily Star
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Strange decision! Fielding an ineligible, unregistered, or suspended players is a major offense in any form of competition whether committed deliberately, recklessly or negligently and shouldn’t be taken lightly. The decision of the PFF to just disqualify the two players is a mild slap on the wrist and does not correspond to the gravity of the offense. For such an offense a minimum sanction of forfeiture is required.
ReplyDeleteThe results of the quarterfinals where 2 players were fielded have not been altered as the PFF claims the games were not under protest. It makes you wonder how in the first place were these players allowed to suit up for the games by the match officials when they were not registered in the first place.
I was fortunate enough to watch the games in Bacolod and Iloilo and there were lots of talks and discussions behind the scenes. Surprisingly, I learned that indeed there were PFF and match officials present during the matches that were well aware of the infringement but did nothing until a complaint was filed. More, an FA claimed that the official line-ups or list of registered players of each team was difficult to secure even from the PFF itself as a result making it very difficult to file a complaint immediately after the game. There is a 5K protest fee required therefore before a protest is filed one must make sure that there is legal basis for its protest. Since official documents such as list of registered players were not made available----some kind of detective work had to be done. This is what caused the delay.
I am still presently in Bacolod and there are rumors floating around that despite the complaint filed against Iloilo for fielding unregistered players during the quarter finals it was disclosed just recently that in the Semi-Final round held in Barotac another unregistered player was fielded by the name of Nathaniel Bulbo. That’s strike 2! If there is any basis to this rumor what now! I was shown an official document that enumerates a list of violations and the sanctions incurred. It is very clear that fielding unregistered players incurs a minimum sanction of forfeiture. Repeated violation will incur more severe sanctions.
There is strong suspicion here that Iloilo has gained competitive advantage because both the PFF President and Competition Department Head Chairman are from Iloilo. Hopefully this is not true. Iloilo has highly competitive and skillful players----no need to resort to illegal acts or dishonesty. FAIR PLAY ALWAYS!
I don't think Ilo-Ilo resorted to an act tantamount to an "illegal acts or dishonesty". This is just an exaggeration I suppose. It would have been different if Ilo-Ilo has fielded an overage or much worse a foreigner. BUT if the rules are clear, then rules are rules. At least the PFF has decided on the matter. If you're not satisfied then I suggest appeal the decision to the proper appellate body. Last resort - go to court.
ReplyDeleteBut hey enough of this mudslinging! I've read too much already.
Nonetheless, it's unfortunate that these 2 suspended players cannot showcase their skills and talent which serves as the true purpose of this competition for them to be selected to the U23 Azkals. I have read months ago of the alleged corruption of the past admin of PFF and if it is still pretty much the same then revamp is badly needed. I am a frequent reader of the local football scene and the present Prexy is only finishing the term of the ousted infamous ex Prexy if my memory serves me right. Thus, elect a new and competent President for the coming PFF Congress so long as the majority agrees.
Too bad my vacation will not coincide with U23 Finals but the Smart Club Championship I will surely not miss, as well as the U19! This is the least that I can do in supporting our local national tournament. Mabuhay!
NCR TEAM A AND NCR TEAM B HINDI NA SUMALI SA ELIMINATIONS, AUTOMATIC QUALIFY NA SILA. MAG PROTEST DAPAT ANG ILOILO.
ReplyDeleteMahiya hiya naman kayo mag protesta sa Iloilo na puro taga Iloilo players nila hindi katulad sa inyo na may mga outsiders players nyo. Kung hindi ba matalo sa laro sa protesta dadaanin? Tsk tsk tsk.... as if si Messi ang sumali sa lineup para ganon ka big deal. Alam nyo ang sagwa tingnan na represent nyo pangalan ng isang lugar pero hindi naman kayo taga dyan. Ok lang sana kung parang club league pero lugar ini represent mo tapos players mo assorted na parang biskwet.
ReplyDeleteWhy did PFF allow NCR to qualifiy automatically? NCR is not following the rules. NCR should be disqualified! Let them have a dose of their own medicine! Ha ha ha
ReplyDeleteTime to move on and let the Philippine "clasico' begin!
ReplyDeletehindi ako taga Ilo-Ilo pero hindi patas sa kanila ang ginawa ng NCR....ang dahilan ng NCR ay ang hindi paglaro ng dalawang player na ito during QF match...eh kung ganun dapat lahat na player na hindi naglaro sa QF ay hindi na palaruin...lumalabas na disqualified ang buong NCR team kasi hindi naman sila naglaro sa QF at dumeretso sila sa Semis...mga probinsyano wag na kasi kayong magpa-uto sa NCR, bakit nyo naman kasi pinayagan na automatic sila sa Semis...at sa mga taga NCR ang kapal ng apog nyo na magprotesta sa dahilang hindi naglaro ang dalawang player na ito sa QF samantalang lahat ng player nyo hindi rin naman naglaro sa QF....Ang kapal nyo...
ReplyDeleteTakot kasi NCR ma eliminate kaya hindi cla sumali sa qualification. Tapos cla pa may ganang mag protesta ang kapal ng mukha. VIP treatment nga kayo eh kayo pa ang angal ng angal at nag protesta. Dahil ba NCR kayo dapat may special privileges kayo?
ReplyDeletePara sa akin tama lang ang disisyon nang PFF.hindi yung e disqualify ang buong team.the rules in the U23 states that the team may submit 20 players but only 18 will be considered as official players.magulo ang rules na ito.but pa pinayagang mag submit nang 20 players di naman pala pwedeng maglaro ang dalawa.mark ferrer and sobredo are very talented players in fact mark is a member of NT.
ReplyDeleteWhile it is true that rules are rules, in this case, the rules are just plain stupid. In basketball, the US sends lesser known players during the FIBA Americas qualifying tournament and a different set during the World Championships. They should have adapted the same rules here.
ReplyDeleteBecause the PFF U23 tournament was hastily organized, those teams who had to go through the cluster stages also hastily composed their teams while those of NCR were only finalized just before the quarterfinals in Laguna and Bacolod. The other teams which had to go through the cluster stages should have been allowed to change their line-ups up until the deadline granted to the NCR teams.
Better yet, Iloilo should have been allowed to field 2 teams because of abundance of talent. If Iloilo natives are called back from other teams to represent Iloilo, i.e., Bedic representing Bacolod and Melliza of NCR B, plus all the others who were not included in Iloilo's line-up, I believe that Iloilo can assemble 2 very competitive teams.
Those cry-babies are behaving like lawyers who just want to win at all cost, even on a technicality. Shame on those who insinuate that Nonong Araneta favors Iloilo because he is a native of Iloilo. I believe that he is acting as an engineer (he is a UP Engineering graduate) who tries to find solutions to problems, unlike lawyers who just muddle the situation and try to win on a technicality. There is a problem here, the idiotic rules that were not really thought through. Adjustments, if not complete solutions, have to be made to make it more equitable for everybody. This is the national championship and the best players of a province should represent it.
The NCR FA president is a lawyer.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to my earlier post that ended with cry-babies and lawyers, I cannot overemphasize on the importance of thinking things through. The rules should have allowed these kinds of things to begin with. Aside from FIBA, the 4x100 and 4x400 relays in the Olympics do the same thing. The lesser runners run in the trials just enough to qualify while the star runners are reserved for the finals.
ReplyDeleteWhile it is true that the tournament was hastily organized, we cannot fault Nonong Araneta for it. He's been at the helm of PFF for less than 6 months. It is accomplishment enough that we have a national championship after 5 years of nothing. Let this be a learning experience for PFF so that future tournaments will run smoother.
Good luck, Iloilo. I will surely be at CPU tomorrow to cheer for you. And lawyers, go to hell.