THE scheduled season start of the rebranded Philippine Premier League (PPL) will not push on March 30 after it decided to defer the kickoff to next month to give some member teams time to resubmit their licensing papers to the local football federation.
In a message posted on its official Facebook page yesterday, the PPL advised fans that instead of starting the season on Saturday, the launch of the new league will happen on April 27.
The move was made to allow Mendiola FC 1991 and Philippine Air Force FC enough time to resubmit their documentation for Philippine Football Federation club licensing.
It went on to say that it was also in accordance with the directives of the PFF, the league’s sanctioning body.
Over the weekend the PFF released a statement saying that its club licensing first instance body had ruled on the applications on Green Archers United Football Club, Mendiola Football Club, España United Football Club and Philippine Air Force Football Club.
The statement said that except for Green Archers United, all failed to meet the criteria set by the PFF Club Licensing Regulations and would not be able to take part in the 2019 campaign of the PPL, formerly the Philippines Football League.
Green Archers United, however, was given a provisional PFF license.
The PPL said that it hopes that fans waiting for the season to start would understand the situation and reason for the deferment to a later date.
Other teams set to compete in the PPL are Ceres-Negros FC, Kaya FC–Iloilo, Green Stallion Laguna and United Makati. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
