Ramos rips decision clearing two Azkals

ASIAN Football Confederation match commissioner Cristy Ramos slammed Friday the decision of the Philippine Football Federation Disciplinary Committee that found no basis in the sexual harrasment charges she filed against members of the men’s national team last March.

In a television interview, Ramos, also a former president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said she was disappointed and disgusted at the decision that cleared Lexton Moy and Angel Guirado.

But while Guirado and Moy were cleared, the two players were also handed one-game suspensions as the PFF Disciplinary Committee noted “a breakdown in discipline” when Ramos conducted the prematch inspection for the Philippines-Malaysia international friendly last February.

Azkals manager Dan Palami has already appealed his two-game suspension for the “failure of leadership” during the time of the incident. But Palami felt relieved that the sexual harassment charge has already been dismissed.

Also handed a two-match ban was Azkals coach Michael Weiss, while skipper James Younghusband was also suspended for one game—the same sanction given to assistant coach Edzel Bracamonte.

Ramos accused Moy of sexual harassment, after she felt alluded to by a comment about bra size. Guirado, Ramos claimed, was only wearing underwear during the inspection.

“It is to the relief of the team and the management that such a serious charge has been found to be without foundation but this is no surprise to us,” Palami said in a statement Friday.

In the same interview with News 5, Ramos blasted the PFF, saying the verdict showed that the federation tolerates disrespectful behavior. The Disciplinary Committee, PFF president Nonong Araneta said, is an independent body.

The daughter of former president Fidel Ramos also felt that the six-month wait for the verdict worked against her.