Suspensions vs Azkals players, officials on hold pending appeal

InterAKTV/Alfonso Ramirez

Suspensions to key personalities of the Philippine national men’s football team over an alleged sexual harassment case were temporarily suspended Wednesday, allowing them to join the Azkals in their upcoming matches this month.

The Philippine Football Federation Appeals Committee put the sanctions against Azkals mainstay James Younghusband, team manager Dan Palami and coach Hans Michael Weiss on hold, allowing them to join the team for Wednesday’s friendly match against Cambodia. PFF communications head Ebong Joson relayed the news to InterAKTV.

The PFF Disciplinary Committee earlier slapped two-game suspensions each on Palami and Weiss, while Younghusband was banned for one game due to “failure of leadership” over sexual harassment complaint filed against Azkals Lexton Moy and Angel Guirado by former Philippine Olympic Committee president Cristy Ramos. The incident happened before the Azkals match against Malaysia last March.

“I am glad that the appeals process is working, allowing James Younghusband to play tonight to lend his considerable talents and leadership to our nation’s sporting cause,” Joson said. “Head coach Hans Michael Weiss and team manager Dan Stephen Palami are also now available to lead the Azkals against Cambodia.”

The Azkals are currently in Cambodia for the friendly. They will face Singapore on September 7 and Laos on September 10.

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