The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has responded to online claims alleging that members of the Filipina5 were neglected during the recently concluded FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup hosted by the country.
PFF Secretary General Yelix Mercader said the federation takes the allegations seriously after reports circulated on social media citing concerns over player accommodations, nutrition, and the absence of certain support personnel during the tournament.
“These are very serious allegations and require serious investigation,” Mercader said in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel’s The Scorecard.
Mercader added that player welfare remains a priority for the federation and formal mechanisms are in place for athletes to report concerns, including access to safeguarding and legal officers.
He further stated the PFF has not received any official complaints from members of the Philippine women’s futsal team, adding that federation officials personally checked on the players during the tournament.
“As far as we know, when we talked to the players, they were happy and thankful. When we asked if there were any problems, there were none,” Mercader said.
The PFF official also cautioned against attributing the claims to the entire national team, saying the concerns may have come from only a few individuals.
Mercader also reiterated that the federation provided accommodations, full provisions, medical support, and dedicated staff throughout the team’s preparation and participation.
According to him, players who were eventually removed from the roster were still provided with housing and necessary support, stressing that lineup decisions were made by the coaching staff.
“Not all preparations are perfect, and there may be lapses, but we really tried our best to provide everything that they needed,” he said.
The PFF said it remains open to conducting a formal investigation should any players come forward with documented complaints, and committed to addressing any verified issues appropriately.
The response came amid widespread praise from FIFA and participating nations for the country’s hosting of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup, which concluded with Brazil winning the championship over Portugal. (AC)
The post PFF denies alleged Filipina5 welfare issues during FIFA Futsal World Cup first appeared on Fastbreak.
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