The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) said it didn’t impose a ban on a reporter from covering the national women’s football team’s ongoing training camp which only aggravated the federation’s souring relationship with the press.
Breaking its silence since Venice Furio was told that her access was being revoked, the PFF explained that it’s acting on the coaching staff’s desire in “minimizing distractions” in the course of the camp aimed toward preparing the squad for crack competitions in the course of the yr.
“To be clear, the PFF has not issued a ban on any journalists. Any decisions regarding limited access during training camps are solely based on the coaching staff’s skilled assessment of the players’ best interests,” the PFF said late Friday, three days after Furio revealed her predicament on X (formerly Twitter).
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The PFF added that while it “recognizes and values the vital role of journalists promoting and covering football” and that it “appreciates their commitment to sharing the stories of our athletes and fostering support for the team,” it is usually looking for understanding with regard to access.
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“The PFF stays committed to providing media access to official functions and public events. Nevertheless, this doesn’t include nor guarantee insider access to the federation or national teams. This ensures fairness and consistency for all media,” the PFF said.
The total statement was also posted on the PFF’s Facebook page, but oddly prevents netizens from posting reactions within the comments section.
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Furio has maintained that the incident got here after an official relayed to her that “certain individuals” weren’t pleased with the views she expressed on social media regarding matters affecting the ladies’s football scene.
The problem involving Furio is the newest within the perceived hostility of the PFF leadership headed by president John Gutierrez towards the media.
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