CFA cracks whip on erring parties in ugly ‘foot-brawl’

CEBU, Philippines -  For manifesting conduct that is inimical to the best interest of the league, the Cebu Football Association (CFA) has cracked the whip on erring parties involved in the fight-marred game between the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and Alcoy FC in the under-18 division of the 16th Aboitiz Cup last Sunday at the Aboitiz Sports Field in Brgy. Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

After an extensive investigation, the CFA Board of Directors has decided to disqualify Ateneo de Cebu and Alcoy FC from the Aboitiz Cup and at the same time impose a six-month suspension on the coaches of both teams as well as all the players who participated in the disgraceful melee that dealt a major blackeye to Cebu sports.

"After a thorough evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the incident, it is the unanimous opinion of the members of the Board of Directors of Cebu Football Association that the team officials of both Ateneo de Cebu and Alcoy FC lost control and miserably failed to prevent the players on the bench from entering the playing field of their respective players," stated the CFA Board in its decision read by lawyer Julius Ceasar Entice of the discipline committee.

"Similarly, the players of both Ateneo de Cebu and Alcoy FC teams committed flagrant violation of and reckless disregard of the tournament ground rules. Participating in the brawl and failing to exercise restraint to prevent the brawl is a deplorable behavior and a glaring manifestation of unsportsmanlike conduct," it added. "Such behavior of the team officials, players and spectators cannot and should not be tolerated. The same cannot be ignored and go unpunished."

Citing the statement of facts based on the Referee’s Report and the observation of match committee members who were in attendance, the match between Ateneo de Cebu and Alcoy FC started at around 10:00 in the morning of March 16. It was characterized by the referee as a “tight and hard game” that the team captain of Ateneo was even advised by the referee to tell his teammates to calm down.

The incident started when a player of Alcoy FC committed a foul at the 37th minute. Accordingly, the aggrieved Atenean made provocative gestures to the Alcoy player, who in turn punched an Ateneo player.

Since the initial commotion happened at the vicinity of the bench area of Ateneo de Cebu, players of Ateneo entered the playing field and joined in the confrontation. The players of Alcoy FC followed suit and all hell broke loose.

For failing to meet the standards expected of them as coaches, the CFA slapped a six-month suspension on Hayato Ayabe of Ateneo and Chris de los Santos of Alcoy.

"It is expected from coaches to develop not only the skills of the players but also to develop the attitude and values of the players to make them better persons of the society. Coaches must encourage their players to treat their opponents with due respect. Coaches must accept responsibility of the conduct of their players and discourage inappropriate behavior in training, competition and away from the sporting arena," the CFA said.

"Apparently, the coaches of both teams miserably failed to meet the standards that were expected of them as coaches. The brawl would have been avoided if only the players concerned were duly equipped with necessary and appropriate attitude and values towards the game and their opponents."

Aside from the coaches, the CFA also banned all the players who took part in the melee from participating in any CFA-sanctioned tournament for six months. The Freeman is with holding the names as they- are all minors.

"As regards, the players who participated in the brawl, the CFA, in a similar case which happened in the men’s open division game between Hiroshi FC and Crazy Horse during the Thirsty Cup in the year 2006, imposed a penalty of suspension for two (2) years on the players involved," the CFA said.

"However, after giving due consideration of their minor age and their strong potentials for development in the game of football, the CFA Board opted to consider the minority of age and their potentials for development in the game of  football as mitigating circumstances."

CFA President Ricky Dakay said their findings and decision will be submitted to the Philippine Football Federation during their Board of Governors meeting this Sunday and it is most likely that the PFF may give a separate sanction for those involved in the incident. (FREEMAN)