PH backs out from Suzuki Cup hosting

Philippine Azkals playing at the Philippine Sports Stadium. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

THE PHILIPPINE Football Federation has withdrawn its right to host the group stage of the 2016 Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup late this year.

The biennial tournament is the most prestigious competition in the region with a combined viewership of close to one billion. The AFF awarded the hosting to the Philippines in 2013, along with Burma (Myanmar).

In a statement, PFF general secretary Ed Gastanes said they were unable to secure a venue that passed the standards of the AFF.

The PFF nominated both Rizal Memorial field and Philippine Sports Stadium as primary venues for the group stage matches. But Gastanes said Rizal Memorial was disapproved as the AFF requires a 30,000 seating capacity.

Although the PSS only has a 20,000 capacity, the AFF still considered it as a possible venue. But the AFF requires submission of a written stadium hire contract, which the PFF wasn’t able to secure from PSS management.

Gastanes said the deadline for the submission of contract was extended twice with the PFF receiving no reply from the PSS. The host will be determined March 12 in Vietnam.