Audit shows that controversial former Philippine Football Federation president Jose Mari Martinez received cash from Mohammed bin Hammam, the suspended chief of the Asian Football Confederation, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Mari Martinez. Photo courtesy of the Philippine Football Federation
The audit named Martinez as one of many football officials who received cash handed out by the AFC under bin Hammam’s watch. According to the report, the money went directly to the recipients’ bank accounts instead of their respective soccer organizations.
Martinez supposedly received $60,000 in cash and apart from having $11,226 of hospital expenses paid.
Bin Hammam has been fighting allegations of trying to buy votes of FIFA delegates in his bid to unseat the federation’s president, Sepp Blatter, in the group’s election last year.
Martinez, meanwhile, was ousted by the PFF Board of Governors in October 2010 over questions of his use of the federation’s funds, a move that was recognized by FIFA in December that year. Bin Hammam initially threw his support behind Martinez on the issue, but later stood down after a letter from FIFA to accept its decision.
Martinez has denied all the charges leveled by the PFF against him. In an interview with this author in March 2011, he said that two different audit reports showed that the charges were baseless.
“To my knowledge, based on the audit reports of both groups, it shows that Mari Martinez never got money from the PFF. Never!” Martinez said. “They can contest and ask the auditors about the situation. It’s clear and confirmed: Mari did not make a single cent.”
How on Earth could the Philippine Football develop if PFF will be governed by Corrupt People?? Not even the "Marines" would believe at this very moment that PFF is now free of Corrupt Officials. Look at the list of players going to Chicago. There is a very big Sign of Corruption in there.
ReplyDeleteNo European Football Official in his right mind would spend a great money in likes of Gener and Margarse. Instead of spending the money for other younger and promising player they are spending it for this two. And why? Because these two must be having good connections to some Philippine Football Official.
Gener and Margarse is 100% not the choice of Dan Palami and not from Michael Weiss that is one thing for sure.
Palakasan System is also a form of Corruption.
Big or small Corruption is Corruption and it is still existing in the PFF.
I think Palami are calling the shots, and he has in the past defended the selection of the older players like Gener and Margarse. Weiss pretty much do what Palami tells him to.
ReplyDeleteThat's only partially true that Palami has all the say in choosing the players to fly to Chicago. Your right however, that Michael Weiss has no free hand to decide and choose only the players he want to fly, which he could depend on in the pitch. But I assure you, these two players we are discussing here, is not a choice of Michael Weiss and not from Dan Palami.
DeleteIt's the PFF head honcho's choice. Close relatives of Nonong Araneta those two - Gener and Margarse. Even Ian Araneta, who has not scored a goal since 2011 should also be dropped from the squad. He was largely infeffective, but hes still with the squad!
DeleteThen who told Weiss and Palami that they have to go?
ReplyDeleteWhat about Christopher Camcam. Worst goalie ever, but is capped for the Philippines, even got a trip to Germany last year. Weiss or Palami? Im glad he is out of the question now. All that came to his benefit was his height, other than that, a very crappy goalie, who wasnt playing regularly for his club team or his school team.
Sino pa eh di si Nonong!
DeleteSo what's new, guys? The country has always been adrift on a sea of corruption from Presidents down to barangay Councillors and until enough people make enough noise the ship of state will stay stuck in a whirlpool of immorality.
ReplyDeleteThe case of Gener and Margarse is only a small type of Corruption, still the media, the newspapers should start with these small little corruptions cases to report and not stop till these PFF Officilas would feel uneasy. We Filipino people should confront them right in their face and let them explain WHY these two are in the list. The Media.
ReplyDeleteHere alone in the Blogs is not enough. I don't think the big bosses of the PFF been here once in a while to read our comments.