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| The Filipinas will finally let the public get a glimpse of their MOA training camp, but questions now surface on how the media will help build them up following a recent PFF ban on a reporter. PFF (file photo) |
"WHAT'S going on?"
That's all I can ask on X when Venice Furio, arguably one of the best news sources for Philippine women's football, revealed on the said social media site that she was disallowed from covering the Filipinas' training camp at the new SM Mall of Asia Football Field in Pasay.
Airing her side of what is really going on, Furio told fellow reporters that her recent tweets did not sit well with "certain individuals" and that she was told that her media access was revoked, essentially meaning a ban was meted to her.
Social media posts of support for Furio quickly came pouring in last week, but then also came at least a couple of "burner accounts" somehow justifying the sanction slapped on her.
Later on, some opinion columns were published, the latest ones being an editorial from The Daily Tribune and a commentary from Tiebreaker Times' Lorenzo Del Carmen all published within the day while I'm writing this.
Radio broadcaster Aaron Bayato also shared his sentiments about the ban on his Football Connections show.
I eventually had three live vlogs on TikTok to say my concerns as well, the second one came on a whim because one burner account commented on my tweet.
As the Filipinas open their training camp to the public on Tuesday night just as the new pitch plus the entire "MOA Sky" rooftop zone will be formally opened, the media-related concerns remain.
That is why I felt like three live vlogs and some social media posts with subtle shades may not be enough and it's time I write a Game Analysis post out of this.
You see, I don't often post opinion columns, but I believe it's time to vent this out.
Well, OK. The PFF said in a statement of clarification that the Filipinas' coaching staff wanted a "necessity of minimizing distractions" which is why Furio's request was not granted, but that was not the case in previous occasions.
Take note that she has been chronicling the Philippine women's national football team since they were still known as the Malditas and many of today's football beat writers were still kids or teenagers.
If the PWNFT didn't see her as a distraction before, why is there a sudden switch?
Also, if there was no ban imposed as what the PFF claimed, why was Venice told that the reason she was not allowed to cover the training camp was because there were some people from the federation who did not like her X takes?
Upon reading those tweets, I can honestly say that I don't see anything wrong with what she said.
After all, we all want to improve our national football teams' competitiveness in the global game especially since the Filipinas' maiden FIFA Women's World Cup appearance in 2023 gives the entire national team program added motivation to aim for something higher.
While I heard from a source that he is seeing some improvements in the PFF's governance under its current leadership, its current debacle with Furio could dampen what the organization has been doing well and is giving at least some of us a chilling effect.
Note that the Furio penalty came a month after PFF president John Gutierrez told us to "please behave" as he deferred commenting during that time on the situation regarding the organization and the Moran Foundation, the former backer of the women's futsal team.
Telling us to behave when we just wanted to do our job was something else, and there was already a feeling of friction between the media and the PFF.
The sanction slapped on Furio opened up the discord, and the following columns made it somehow obvious.
While we hope that we can finally get words from the Filipinas on Tuesday night, I too hope (and many of us at that) that Venice will be allowed to get her interviews as well and lift whatever they want to coin the sanction meted on her.
Oh siya! Behave na ako. Bye.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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