“PFF is proud that three of our competitions staff passed the AFC VAR Information Officer Workshop. We are committed to further professionalizing our competition staff and their continuing formal education is essential to improving officiating.” – Philippine Football Federation President John Anthony Gutierrez.
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is working to improve and further professionalize its competition staff. With this, three PFF staff members— Aira Molina Ilan and Robin Allen Cainglet— have passed the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Information Officer (VIO) workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, held from August 6 to 7. They were joined by PFF’s Abel de Castro, who already serves as VIO for AFC matches.
The workshop, held by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), provided a crucial opportunity for the PFF to enhance its knowledge of modern match officiating systems.
The VIO’s role involves overseeing VAR operations, acting as a key liaison with various stakeholders, and ensuring all technical aspects of a match are handled smoothly. By attending and passing the workshop, the PFF staff learned about the latest VAR rules and practices.
This effort is part of the PFF’s plan to help its staff grow professionally. The PFF will continue to send employees to international workshops to ensure its operations meet global standards.
The AFC is expanding its use of VAR, with planned implementation in several major tournaments, including the AFC Champions League Elite, the AFC Women’s Champions League, and the AFC Asian Qualifiers—Road to World Cup ’26 Playoffs. This widespread adoption underscores the importance for member associations like the PFF to build a skilled and knowledgeable workforce capable of managing these advanced systems.
