2 Azkals must be punished, says Ramos

MANILA, Philippines - Asian Football Confederation (AFC) match commissioner Cristy Ramos hinted on Monday that only the punishment of 2 Philippine national football team players will resolve her sex harassment complaint.

The former Philippine Olympic Committee president, a daughter of former President Fidel Ramos, said apologies are not enough to end the row with Azkals Lexton Moy and Angel Guirado

Ms. Ramos said she talked to team manager Dan Palami Palami and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Mariano "Nonong" Araneta last Friday.

"It was a very objective discussion. Mr. Palami apologized on behalf of the 2 players and the team. I did accept the apology, but it didn't absolve the guilty party of the wrongdoing. I said it doesn't vindicate them," she told ANC Primetime.

"Mr. Nonong Araneta also assured me that there would be an independent investigation by the PFF disciplinary committee," she added.

She said she would appreciate the 2 players involved apologizing "but it depends on the investigations if there are sanctions and punishments set to be meted out, so be it."

Suspension, ban

She said she filed the complaint before the disciplinary committee of the AFC because the match was an official friendly involving 2 Asian countries.

"I did send a copy of my complaint to the PFF," Ramos said. "They know what the complaint is all about."

The AFC's disciplinary committee, which is composed of officials from various Asian countries, has the power to suspend or ban players from taking part in official matches and impose penalties on erring teams and their officials.

The AFC disciplinary code follows FIFA regulations.

"I have been a match commissioner since 2003. I have done more than 150 matches," Ramos said. "Unfortunately, this is my first time to have this sort of experience."

"The match officials respect the players and it should be the same way with the players," she added.

"I would like to think that these men are mature enough. These are not kids. They're not little boys," Ramos said. "They should have the proper behavior."

"(They) wanted to play for the national team. They should've thought, 'I have to behave well because I'm representing the country,'" she said.

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