FIFA: Azkals Borromeo, Schrock will not play in away match vs Kuwait

FIFA officially barred Azkals team captain Aly Borromeo and midfielder Stephan Schrock from playing against Kuwait in the 2014 World Cup qualifying match this Sunday (Manila time). The football world-governing body rendered its decision against Borromeo and Schrock despite the Asian Football Federation's (AFC) recommendation to let the Filipinos play. Borromeo, via his Twitter account, said: "Disheartening news for me that I can't be on the pitch with the boys tomorrow.. But I trust the boys will step up and represent!" The AFC, through its General Secretary Alex Soosay, sent a letter to FIFA Legal Affairs Director Marco Villiger dated July 18, 2011, recommending that the cautions (yellow cards) dealt to Borromeo and Schrock be cancelled. This was done by the AFC as a response to the Philippine Football Federation's (PFF) appeal based on Article 37 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code:

1. Upon its own initiative or at the request of a confederation, the Disciplinary Committee may cancel cautions that have not resulted in an expulsion so as to restore the balance among several teams that have not played the same number of matches during the first round of a competition, or in other exceptional circumstances. 2. In any case, the committee may do this only once in any competition. 3. The Disciplinary Committee’s decision is final.

The PFF hoped that the football governing bodies would let the two Filipinos play "in the spirit of fair play", given Kuwait is ranked 102nd to the Philippines' 159th. The decision came Friday, in a letter sent by AFC General Secretary Alex Soosay to Ramon Manuel, General Secretary of the PFF. The letter states:

"Kindly be informed that we were adviced by FIFA to which we agree that Article 37 of the FDC applied only to cautions that have not resulted in an expulsion. Your request however is in regards to the following players; Alexander Borromeo and Stephan Schrock who had received two cautions in two different matches in the first round of the said Qualifiers (against Sri Lanka on 29 June 2011 and 03 July 2011 respectively). This warrants an automatic suspension for the match against Kuwait on 23 July 2011. FIFA had sent out the confirmation letter to your good Federation informing the suspension of the two above-mentioned players. Therefore Article 37 of the FDC is not applicable in the instant case. As such the two cautions received by each of the above-mentioned players cannot be cancelled and they are suspended for the match against Kuwait on 23 July 2011."

"Unfortunately, we did not get the result we desired. Nevertheless, our team will continue to fight to win and represent the country in a way that will make us all proud to be Filipinos," said Philippine Football Federation Treasurer Bonnie Ladrido. Borromeo's absence means Chieffy Caligdong will act as captain. Possible replacements are Ray Jonsson, Manuel Ott and Jason de Jong, according to Borromeo. -- EVR/RAF/OMG, GMA News