Fifa tells AFC: Decide on 2 Azkals’ suspension

MANILA—The ball is now in the hands of the Asian Football Confederation as far as the one-game suspension of Philippine Azkals duo Aly Borromeo and Stephan Schrock in the World Cup Qualifying duel with Kuwait is concerned.

Responding to the appeal to rescind the away-game ban on the two players, the International Football Federation (Fifa) yesterday directed the Philippine Football Football Federation to seek the endorsement of the AFC to cancel the suspension.

In a July 14 letter to the PFF, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, Marco Villigel, Fifa director for legal affairs, and Marc Cavaliero, head of Fifa disciplinary and governance, said the football governing body can only act on the appeal at the request of the AFC.

The two Fifa officials cited Article 37 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code, which states that the “FDC may cancel cautions that have not resulted in expulsions to restore balance among teams that have not played the same number of matches during the first round of competitions.”

Borromeo, the Azkals skipper, and Schrock, who made a sterling debut as an attacking midfielder, picked up a yellow card in each of the two legs in the 5-1 first round aggregate victory over Sri Lanka.

Ranked 102nd by Fifa, Kuwait, also known as the Al-Azraq, has already been seeded to the second round of qualifying.

PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta yesterday said they have already sought the endorsement of the Malaysia-based AFC on the matter. He expects to get the soonest response on Monday.

Despite the uncertainty of his status for the first leg in Hawally, Kuwait on July 23, Borromeo yesterday joined the Azkals on their trip to Manama, Bahrain, where they will play a couple of matches against the Bahrain Olympic Under-23 squad.

Also joining the trip to Bahrain was Filipino-Spanish striker Angel Guirado, who scored in the 4-nil rout of Sri Lanka in the home leg.

Rafa Garcia, Guirado’s cousin, who also acts as his interpreter, said the former Spain third division standout is still nursing a knee injury and might see limited minutes in the two exhibition matches in Bahrain.

“Angel really wants to be ready for Kuwait,” Garcia said of Guirado, who already has three goals in five international matches for the Azkals.