World body’s financial support to PFF continues

THE Philippine Football Federation may not have passed an internal audit done on its finances in 2010, but it will continue receiving financial assistance from the international football federation or FIFA this year.

A yearly grant of $250,000 in assistance to be given in the coming months will have to be done on a delayed basis after the PFF submits a centralized audit report to the PFF this March.
FIFA development officer David Borja said this after the PFF audit reports of 2010 were given to soccer’s world governing body recently.
Borja said appeals were made on the PFF’s behalf after the FIFA noted that there were discrepancies on how the FIFA’s annual financial support of $250,000 was managed in 2010.
The Zurich-based Borja said the PFF cannot be made liable for such irregularities, which reportedly took place during the time of PFF ex-president Jose Mari Martinez. He said it was explained to FIFA that the administration of Martinez was different from that of reelected PFF chief Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.
This became the reason why the PFF will continue getting its yearly financial support from FIFA.
“The PFF was not supposed to get its financial assistance for 2011 because of the bad 2010 report. But you have to explain it to them (FIFA), that you cannot do that because there are two different sets of administrations (involved),” said Borja.
The appeal became the reason why the FIFA released its full financial support to the PFF.
In 2010, funds amounting P2.8 million were unaccounted for, compelling the PFF to file a case against members of the past administration. The filing of such a case encouraged the FIFA to continue giving PFF financial assistance.
This year, the Philippines is among 20 countries which will undergo an internal audit before FIFA releases its annual assistance.
With FIFA funds absent in the first quarter of the year, the PFF will get an assistance of $100,000 from the Asian Football Confederation when it launches its grassroots program within the next three months. Additional funding of $100,000 will be made available by the AFC this July. Peter Atencio




Manila Standard Today