The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has laid out its guidelines on the potential return of football activities, whether professional or amateur football competitions, in anticipation of the easing of the community quarantine guidelines imposed nationwide.
As per Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines, team sports are currently not allowed under the varying levels of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
Philippines Football League
PFF has made representations, along with other stakeholders, to the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) for guidance in convincing the IATF to allow the gradual return (training first and thereafter actual matches or games) of professional leagues such as the Philippines Football League (PFL).
PFF submitted a 26-page “Operations Protocols on Philippines Football League” to GAB last May 2020 for its favorable endorsement to and for approval by the IATF. The protocols contained strategies patterned from football leagues that have gradually returned. PFF also adapted the implementing guidelines provided for by FIFA and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on prioritizing the health and safety of players and observing the national guidelines imposed by the government.
PFF awaits the approval of IATF for the resumption of football training and competition.
PFF Competitions
The PFF has decided to defer the following PFF competitions scheduled for 2020 until further notice:
- Regional Festival of Football 2020
- PFF Women’s League 2020
- U15 Boys Championship 2020
- U17 Boys Championship 2020
- U16 Girls Regional Championship
- U18 Girls Regional Championship
The start dates of the competitions will depend on further government health guidelines announcement.
International Competitions
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has rescheduled the remaining FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™/AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 fixtures from their original dates of March and June 2020 to October and November 2020. The revised schedule of the Philippine Men’s National Team matches are as follows:
| Original Date | New Date | Match |
|---|---|---|
| 26 March 2020 | 08 October 2020 | Philippines vs. Guam |
| 04 June 2020 | 12 November 2020 | China PR vs. Philippines |
| 09 June 2020 | 17 November 2020 | Philippines vs. Maldives |
The AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 has been scheduled by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) for 23 November – 31 December 2020, however this is still subject to final approval from AFF.
For Women and Youth national team competitions for 2020, PFF is awaiting announcements from both AFC and AFF.
In light of the current situation, PFF is continuously assessing the public health situation so that Football can make a safe return in the country in preparation of the transition to the New Normal.
PFF urges everyone to stay safe and healthy, and follow the government pronouncements to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the respective communities.
Atty. Edwin B. Gastanes Mariano V. Araneta, Jr.
PFF General Secretary PFF President
