WHEN I first learned about Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s plan to open the World Cup to private investment, I was sure of two things–the big federations would cry foul and any financial benefit that would come our way had the plan pushed through would be a welcome boost.
You see, as one of the few non-football playing countries, Philippine football isn’t income generating, hasn’t been for years. We don’t earn from TV rights, jerseys sales or gate attendance. If not for the financial aid from Fifa, AFC, or the AFF, there’s no House of Football, artificial pitches or what-have-you.
And no, you can’t easily pocket the Fifa financial assistance, given its stringent list of requirements. I know because I tried to help the Cebu RFA connect with an LGU to see if it qualified for a Fifa financial aid for facilities that got damaged by a quake.
I think the only time there was some money in Philippine football was at the height of the popularity of the Azkals, when ABS-CBN won the bid for exclusive broadcast rights after dangling a four-year P300 million offer (or was it P400M?) in 2012. If I remember it right, the PFF was set to receive a fixed amount for every match, with the money trickling down to the players. And before you ask where that money went, not all of the P300 million was cash, some were “marketing values.”
So yes, that botched Fifa deal, now dead on the water because of the opposition from major federations, would have meant a great infusion of cash for small associations like the PFF. Would have it been good for football? I don’t know, I will let the guardians of the game decide for that. But would have it been good for Philippine football? That’s a definite yes.
The PFF released a statement, one that have been received negatively by fans.
I agree with the major points of the statement–that any discussions that involved major financial and structural impacts should be discussed openly and transparently and that of expanding commercial and financial assistance to all 211 member associations should remain a major Fifa target.
Because it should be. For federations like the PFF, it is a lifeline.
As for the support for Fifa president Infantino? I don’t agree with that. I don’t support a guy who gave Donald Trump a Peace trophy among other things.
See. It’s possible to disagree with someone or something without resorting to insults, which has now become the norm in Philippine football fan pages.
So, let’s get this in the open shall we? This is all about the PFF presidential elections in 2027 and this orchestrated attack is meant for one thing and one thing only–to remove John Gutierrez.
Which is sad. Anyone who resorts to below-the-belt tactics to win the presidency is one that would do anything to stay in position and that won’t be good for Philippine football.
You want to win the PFF presidency? Then do what John Gutierrez did in 2023. He visited the RFAs and presented his programs and asked for their support and got it. Any candidate worth his salt should do that and not hide behind anonymous trolls or blind items.
And if in case there are doubts, yes, I hope Gutierrez wins another term. He has done a lot in his four years. Anyone who wants to earn the support of fans should simply present himself and his programs.
That’s it.