Rape allegation hounds four Azkals members

Four members of the highly popular Philippine Azkals football team have been accused of rape, the accusation coming just as the team is preparing for the second round of the 2014 World Cup Asia qualifiers against Kuwait.

But in an interview aired on GMA News’ “24 Oras" on Monday, team manager Dan Palami denied the allegation, pointing out that it came from the Internet where anything can be posted.

According to the “24 Oras" report, the controversy started when a Filipino gossip blog posted screen caps of what was purportedly a conversation between Azkals head coach Michael Weiss and a certain Paul Weiler, and keeper Neil Etheridge and Weiler.

In the blog entry, four members of the team—Neil Etheridge, Anton del Rosario, Jason Sabio and Simon Greatwich — were alleged to have raped a woman in Palami’s house. The story was picked up by the tabloid Bandera.

Palami said Weiler applied to become a consultant of the team 10 years ago, during the time of former Philippine Football Federation President Johnny Romualdez.

“Until now yan ang hinahawakan niyang papel," said Palami.

Palami said when he met Weiler in Germany, he told him to secure accreditation from the current administration. Weiler then asked to be a consultant to the Azkals, which Palami said he rejected because the position was not needed.

“Medyo hindi ata nasiyahan na hindi [siya] tinanggap… So I’m quite surprised na meron siyang mga ganon," said Palami.

The Azkals manager said he had also talked to the coaches and players regarding the issue, but all of them denied speaking to Weiler.

Weiss refused to be interviewed on television, but cautioned people not to believe everything on the Internet, the “24 Oras" report said.

“[So far] we only have two statements—the blog entry and the statement of Paul Weiler—both are not credible," said Palami.

He said he will be investigating the incident, although he said the accounts of the players and those in the house did not match the accusations of the blogger.

“Before we judge or post anything, siguro check muna natin yung facts because maraming taong naaapektuhan," Palami said.

Still focused

Despite the controversy, the team remains focused on winning their away game against Kuwait on July 23, according to team captain Aly Borromeo.

“I think that there are a few people out there who just want to take away the limelight from the Azkals," Borromeo said.

Palami, for his part, said it is “unfortunate" that the team is being hounded by such a negative issue. “But we cannot be distracted from our goal," he said.

ABS CBN News