Philippine Football Federation

The football body's origins dates back to 1907 when it was established as the Philippine Amateur Football Association (PAFA). It was among the twelve founding Asian football associations of the Asian Football Confederation.

In 1917, the first Spanish and Filipino footballer to play for a European club, Paulino Alcántara Riestra, was selected by the Philippines to represent the country at the Far Eastern Championship Games in Tokyo. He helped them defeat Japan 15–2, which remains the largest win in Philippine international football history.

In 1961, stakeholders of Philippine football officially organized themselves to establish the Philippine Football Association (PFA) which was later reorganized as the Philippine Football Federation in 1982.{{cite web|title=Philippine Football Federation|url=http://www.olympic.ph/nsa_football.html|website=Philippine Olympic Committee|access-date=30 March 2015|archive-date=16 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216001806/http://olympic.ph/nsa_football.html}}

In October 1996, Rene Adad was installed as PFF president after a snap election which ousted his predecessor, Ricardo Tan.{{cite news|last1=Atencio|first1=Peter|title=Things perking up for local football|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FmYVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zQoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4782%2C3870287|access-date=29 April 2015|publisher=Manila Standard|date=8 October 1986}} In 2002, the PFF inaugurated its first regional center in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.{{cite news|last1=Henson|first1=Joaquin|title=Soccer a Sleeping Giant in RP|url=http://www.newsflash.org/2002/07/sp/sp002046.htm|publisher=Philippine Star|date=11 July 2002|location=Manila}}

The PFF under the Presidency of Jose Mari Martinez saw crises which challenged his leadership as well as the national teams.

Under Martinez, the PFF also had a new headquarters, the PFF House of Football in Pasig, which was inaugurated by then FIFA President Sepp Blatter and AFC President bin Hammam in 2008.{{cite news|date=4 August 2008|title=Blatter champions football in Philippine|publisher=FIFA|url=https://www.fifa.com/development/news/y=2008/m=8/news=blatter-champions-football-philippines-837734.html|url-status=dead|access-date=3 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115202458/https://www.fifa.com/development/news/y=2008/m=8/news=blatter-champions-football-philippines-837734.html|archive-date=15 November 2017}} The PFF moved to the building after occupying the PhilSports Complex as its headquarters for decades.{{cite news|last1=Olivares|first1=Rick|title=PFF set to move to new HQ in Cavite|url=http://www.philstar.com/sports/2016/11/03/1640077/pff-set-move-new-hq-cavite|access-date=3 November 2016|publisher=The Philippine Star|date=3 November 2016}}

In 2009, a crisis affected the Philippine women's national futsal which resulted to the ouster of women's futsal coach Emmanuel Batungbacal and long-time men's national football coach Juan Cutillas. Batungbacal was sacked allegedly leading the futsal team in a tournament without sanction from the PFF. Batungbacal said that he had sanction and he claimed Martinez ignored to make a dialogue with him on the matter. The players who played under Batungbacal resigned from international duty as protests. Martinez said that a lack of suitable coaching license was the reason to Batungbacal's dismissal.{{cite news|title=Crisis hits RP women's futsal team, PFF|url=http://rp2.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/03/10/09/crisis-hits-rp-womens-futsal-team-pff|access-date=21 December 2015|publisher=ABS-CBN News|date=10 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222110303/http://rp2.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/03/10/09/crisis-hits-rp-womens-futsal-team-pff|archive-date=22 December 2015}}

On 27 November 2010, at the PFF 7th Ordinary Congress at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig, Martinez was ousted by 25 Presidents out of the 29 present member associations to approve a resolution made by 8 members of the Board of Governors calling for the ousting and replacement of Martinez as PFF president. Martinez was dismissed due to allegedly falsifying public documents and misusing funds. Mariano Araneta was named Interim President.{{cite news|last1=Olivares|first1=Rick|title=PFF Congress boots out Mari Martinez|url=http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2010/11/pff-congress-boots-out-mari-martinez.html|access-date=31 March 2015|work=Bleachers Brew|publisher=Business Mirror|date=29 November 2010}}

After serving as Interim President for about a year after Martinez's ouster in 2010, Araneta was elected as president on 26 November 2011 at a PFF congress held at the Astoria Plaza in Pasig.

On 14 October 2016, at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Pasig, the Online PFF Player Registration System was launched following a contract signing between the PFF, MMC Sportz Marketing and RSportz. The initiative by the PFF is among the first in Southeast Asia. The registration system will create a database of Filipino players which will be accessible to organizers of PFF-sanctioned tournaments. The registration system was planned to be online by November 2016.{{cite news|title=PFF Launches Online Player Registration System|url=http://pff.org.ph/|access-date=16 October 2016|publisher=Philippine Football Federation|date=14 October 2016}}

In November 2016, Araneta announced that the PFF will move its headquarters to Carmona, Cavite in 2017 where an artificial football pitch is due to be finished within the month. The new location will also house a dormitory, a natural grass pitch and corporate offices.

The PFF's registration system dubbed "My PFF" was officially launched in June 2017 and will be embedded in PFF's website on 3 July 2017 to be more accessible for registrants.{{cite news|title=Philippine Football Federation goes 'live' with 'MY PFF'|url=http://sports.abs-cbn.com/football/news/2017/06/30/philippine-football-federation-goes-live-my-pff-28015|access-date=30 June 2017|work=ABS-CBN Sports|date=30 June 2017}}

A financial issue with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) was resolved on September 14, 2018, when the PFF remitted {{Philippine peso|4.8 million}} amount of unliquidated financial assistance from the government agency. The scope of the financial aid covers the administrations of the PFF from past 1996 to 2010.{{cite news |title=Philippine Football Federation clears accounts with PSC |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2018/10/06/1857779/philippine-football-federation-clears-accounts-psc |access-date=8 October 2018 |work=Philippine Star |date=6 October 2018}}

The PFF was given the right to hold AFC ‘A’ and AFC ‘B’ Diploma Courses in the Philippines by the Asian Football Confederation starting 2019.{{cite web|title=PFF Christmas Message 2018|url=http://pff.org.ph/2018/12/25/pff-christmas-message-2018/|date=25 December 2018|publisher=Philippine Football Federation|access-date=25 December 2018}} The federation launched its first esports tournament, the PFF eTrophy which featured the video game title FIFA 21 in 2021.{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Matthew |title=PFF launches efootball tourney |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/pff-launches-efootball-tourney/205248 |access-date=10 April 2021 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=9 April 2021}}

On July 30, 2022, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new PPF headquarters in Carmona took place.{{cite news |last1=Terrado |first1=Reuben |title=New PFF headquarters in Carmona set to be built |url=https://www.spin.ph/football/new-pff-headquarters-in-carmona-set-to-be-built-a795-20220730 |access-date=30 July 2022 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=30 July 2022 |language=en}} In November 2022, the PFF decided to allow the expansion of its regional associations.{{cite news|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/21/22/pff-adds-more-regional-associations-to-promote-football|title=PFF adds more regional associations to promote football|work=ABS CBN|date=21 November 2022|author=Manolo Pedralvez|access-date=20 March 2023}}

Araneta, bound to a two-term limit, ends his presidency. The PFF held an election on 25 November 2023 to determine its new set of officials.{{cite news |last1=Suing |first1=Ivan |title=Araneta leaving PFF in style|url=https://sports.tribune.net.ph/2023/11/06/araneta-leaving-pff-in-style/ |access-date=24 November 2023 |work=Daily Tribune |date=6 November 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Atencio |first1=Peter |title=18 Philippine football positions up for grabs in election |url=https://manilastandard.net/sports/sports-headlines/sports-plus/314389569/18-philippine-football-positions-up-for-grabs-in-election.html |access-date=24 November 2023 |work=Manila Standard |date=13 November 2023}}

John Gutierrez of Bukidnon FA was elected as Araneta's successor.{{cite news |last1=Terrado |first1=Jonas |title=Big shoes to fill as Gutierrez succeeds Araneta |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/541440/big-shoes-to-fill-as-gutierrez-succeeds-araneta |access-date=26 November 2023 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=26 November 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Leyba |first1=Olmin |title=Gutierrez elected new PFF head |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2023/11/26/2314349/gutierrez-elected-new-pff-head |access-date=26 November 2023 |work=The Philippine Star |date=26 November 2023}}

The other candidates were Filbert Alquiros of Stallion Laguna, and Henry Sabate of Davao-South RFA.{{cite web |title=Candidates for PFF Elections 2023 announced |url=https://pff.org.ph/2023/11/10/candidates-pff-elections-2023-announced/ |access-date=24 November 2023 |date=10 November 2023}}{{cite news |title=Alquiros eyes PFF presidency, aims to build on Araneta's programs |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/20/23/alquiros-eyes-pff-presidency-aims-to-build-on-aranetas-programs |access-date=24 November 2023 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=20 November 2023}} Gutierrez garnered 30 out of 36 votes, with the other contenders receiving three votes each.{{cite news |title=New PFF president to prioritize youth, grassroots dev't |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/27/23/new-pff-president-to-prioritize-youth-grassroots-devt |access-date=27 November 2023 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=27 November 2023}}

There are 36 member associations, three of which are professional football clubs, under the PFF.{{cite web|title=Member Associations|url=http://pff.org.ph/about-the-pff/member-associations/|access-date=2 December 2019}}

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• Agusan del Sur – Surigao del Sur RFA
• Cordillera RFA
• Bukidnon FA
• Butuan – Agusan Del Norte FA
• RFA of Camarines Norte
• Camiguin-Misamis Oriental FA
• Central Visayas RFA
• Golden Davao RFA
• North Davao RFA
• Davao R.F.A.
• Iligan – Lanao Regional Football Association (Iligan-Lanao RFA)
• Iloilo FA
• Laguna – Cavite RFA
• Legazpi City – Albay Federated RFA
• East Visayas R.F.A.
• Federated F.A. of Masbate
• Central Bicol RFA
• National Capital Region F.A.
• Negros Occidental F.A.
• Negros Oriental – Siquijor RFA
• Maguindanao-Cotabato City FA
• Misamis Occidental – Ozamis FA
• Mount Apo RFA
• Oriental Mindoro FA
• Quezon – Batangas RFA
• FA of Rizal
• South Cotabato – Sarangani – Gen. Santos City RFA (SOCSARGEN RFA)
• Sultan Kudarat RFA
• Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands RFA
• Central Luzon RFA
• Zamboanga del Norte – Dipolog RFA
• Pagadian – Zamboanga del Sur – Sibugay RFA
• Zamboanga – Basilan – Sulu – Tawi-tawi FA (ZAMBASULTA FA)
• Kaya FC-Iloilo
• Stallion Laguna FC
• United City FC

{{div col end}}

• Philippines Football League
• PFF Women's League

• Copa Paulino Alcantara
• PFF Women's Cup
• PFF National Men's Club Championship (defunct)

• PFF U-19 Boys National Football Championship
• PFF National Men's U-23 Championship (defunct)
• PFF National U-22 Amateur Championship (inactive)
• PFF U-15 Boys National Championship (inactive)

• PFF eTrophy

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The PFF was given the AFC President Recognition Award for Grassroots Football in the Developing Category in 2014{{cite news|last1=Reyes|first1=Jaelle Nevin|title=PFF nominated for AFC grassroots award|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/pff-nominated-afc-grassroots-award/296331/|access-date=14 November 2016|date=13 November 2016}} and in 2016.{{cite news|last1=Kumar|first1=Ashwani|title=Asia's best: Omar Abdulrahman|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/asias-best-omar-abdulrahman|access-date=2 December 2016|publisher=Khaleej Times|date=2 December 2016|location=Abu Dhabi}}

• Philippines national futsal team
• Philippines women's national futsal team
• List of football clubs in the Philippines
• Philippine football clubs in Asian competitions

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070607005120/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=phi/index.html Philippines] at FIFA site (archived 7 June 2007)
• [http://www.the-afc.com/en/member-associations/asean/philippine-football-fed.html Philippines] at AFC site
• [http://www.aseanfootball.org/?page_id=299 AFF webpage]
• [https://pff.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/PFF-Statutes.pdf Statutes of the Philippine Football Federation] (in force since December 30, 2013)

{{Football in the Philippines}}

{{AFC associations}}

{{Sports governing bodies of the Philippines}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1907 establishments in the Philippines

Philippines

Football

Category:Sports organizations established in 1907

Category:Association football governing bodies in Asia