WE haven’t heard anything from Global FC ever since the Games and Amusements Board asked the embattled club to answer the complaint of its former players, who said they haven’t been paid for months.
And, based on the latest update from the club, it seems we won’t hear again from the once glorious club that was the toast of local domestic football.
Not only did Global FC fail to answer the complaint in 10 days, it never even sent a reply. A snub that tells you that either the management isn’t interested in settling complaints or there is no longer a management at all.
Because of that, GAB chairman Baham Mitra issued a Blacklist Order against the team on Sept. 9, revoking the club’s GAB license and effectively ending its existence as a professional club under the agency’s eyes. The Philippine Football Federation has already suspended Global’s license for 90 days for the same issue and this latest blow I think effectively seals the coffin for the former UFL champions.
“We are unhappy about what happened and we are acting on the complaint of the players whose livelihood and careers have been affected,” Mitra said in his letter.
Mind you, this may be the first time Mitra has issued a suspension order against Global but it isn’t the first time he heard of the same issues against the club.
A couple of years ago, the club faced the same issues with players threatening not to play if they didn’t get paid. After a series of broken promises, they reached out to me and I in turn, reached out to Mitra so the players could file a complaint. Though the two parties had initial discussions, there was no complaint because I think the players were hoping against hope that they would still get paid.
They got left holding an empty bag and some were incensed to see the club continue to play in the pro league.
It would have been the same situation this year if an unpaid graphics designer didn’t raise the first issue. The club failed to pay his P5,000 professional fee and then a couple of players raised the same issue, thinking if the club can’t pay such meager amount, how can it afford to pay their salaries?
Initially, it looked like the club wanted to settle the issue but some weeks later, there was some finger pointing from the management and owners then none was heard from them again.
It’s a sad ending but I hope Global’s story serves as a cautionary tale.