A case of persecution?

The last couple of weeks added to the growing portfolio of memorable achievements of the Philippine Azkals. The draws against Malaysia and Indonesia, and coach Hans Weiss’ trust in his other players in shuffling his line-up are examples of how the team’s culture has changed. The team is growing in talent, in stature, in trust in one another.

However, one issue has been buried as the football world has continued to revolve. One player who left the team is being hounded by the long arm of the Philippine Football Federation and deprived of his livelihood to the detriment even of his United Football League team.

Meralco Sparks midfielder Matthew Hartmann was suspended by the Philippine Football Federation for allegedly abandoning the country’s Under-23 team in the midst of the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia in November. Hartmann’s departure was supposedly triggered by a disagreement with coach Weiss. 

The PFF made it clear that it would not abide the insubordination, and suspended Hartmann for one year. In the meantime, an internal committee was formed to investigate Hartmann’s leaving the team. Seeking to continue playing and make a living, the young athlete joined the Sparks. Later, the PFF extended its suspension to include the UFL, saying that it was a PFF-sanctioned tournament, and thus, the football association held sway. PFF top brass has said it would await whatever the committee’s recommendations would be. In the meantime, Hartmann is not allowed to make a living.

Recently, the Sparks made history, becoming the first Philippine football club to be invited to the tough 2012 Singapore Cup. Meralco beat the strong Geylang United FC in their opening match. The team has also been doing well in the UFL. But on the eve of the Sparks’ Singapore Cup debut, they were supposedly informed that the PFF was not allowing Hartmann to play in the tournament, a move which startled Sparks vice-chairman Randy Roxas.

Remember that the Singapore Cup is not a PFF-sanctioned tournament, and is organized by foreign entity. Secondly, Hartmann is not playing as a national team member. The Sparks contend that the PFF did not formally advise FIFA or the Asian Football Confederation of their additional ruling against the player. The scope of the ban on Hartmann did not originally include his playing for Meralco, or playing overseas for any Philippine-based club team.

Are there comparable situations in other countries? When USA Basketball replaced almost all of the members of Dream Team 2 for bad behavior, for example, did they add any other punishment? No. The players could have done other things and earned more, too. But they chose to sacrifice their time and energy, risk being injured, for service to the flag.

It is common knowledge that many of the Azkals could earn more playing in Europe, Japan and other countries full-time. Some of them compromise, taking leave of their club teams to suit up for the Azkals when schedules allow. Some have decided to live in the Philippines and try to earn the same money. But it is always a sacrifice they make to be able to play for their mother country when possible.

When the new leaders of the PFF were elected, they promised change. The soccer NSA had a history of suspicion of corruption, and they promised to change that. Disciplining players when they deserve it can also be a sign of that. Strong leaders run a tight ship. Players who deserve to be on the team for their skill and behavior should be on the team. After all, they do carry the flag and represent their countrymen.

How long and how far will the PFF go in punishing Hartmann? Taking him off the national team for alleged disobedience is understandable, if he is given due process. Telling a commercial team that he can’t be employed is questionable. Hartmann committed his offense (whatever it was) as a member of the national team, not as a Spark. There is a difference. But if they are going so far as to say he cannot play in other parts of the world, that is simply unreasonable. The Sparks are helping Hartmann’s career, and retaining him even though the PFF has an open-ended judgment against him. Was his offense that horrible? Did his actions embarrass some authority figure who is taking it out on him?

The intent of any reprimand is to keep the offense from happening again within the context of where it happened. Hartmann tried to move on with his life; he has taken the suspension and tried to keep playing. That’s the mature thing to do, at least until the case is resolved. But what’s being done to Hartmann is setting a dangerous precedent. There seems to be no limit to how long and how much an athlete can be punished for a single offense.