Philippines Football League


The Philippines Football League, commonly known as PFL, is a Filipino professional association football league sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation. It is the Philippines' highest level of men's club football, surpassing the United Football League, which was previously the de facto top-tier league in the country. Starting from the 2020 season, the league is also known as The Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways, due to the league's title sponsorship of Qatar Airways.
The PFL followed a home-and-away format as opposed to the UFL, and has had three seasons thus far, which were all won by Ceres–Negros. In 2018, financial and logistical issues forced the disestablishment of the PFL with the Philippine Premier League established in its place. However, with the folding of the PPL after just one match day, the PFL was revived in mid-May 2019.

History

Origins

Following the success of the Philippines national team in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, Philippine football experienced a renaissance. With no existing national football league, the Metro Manila-based United Football League established itself as the de facto top-tier league in the Philippines. Under the guidance of the Football Alliance in partnership with United Football Clubs Association, the UFL flourished. However, the PFF expressed the need to have a nationwide, community-based football league that is at par with the standards set by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association and the Asian Football Confederation. The UFL, which was under the National Capital Region Football Association, could not be considered as a national league.

Foundations

With the goal of establishing a truly nationwide professional football league in the Philippines, the PFF launched the PFF National League Task Force on December 2, 2013. The task force was led by Filipino economist Bernie Villegas, and is composed of UFL President Randy Roxas, AFC Deputy General Secretary and Competition Director Windsor John, Filipino FIFA official Domeka Garamendi, AFC Kick-off Program Director Yogesh Desai, UFL Commissioner Bonnie Ladrido, ABS-CBN's Dino Laurena, former PFF' General Secretary Cyril Dofitas and Gelix Mercader. The task force was tasked to do market research studies to determine the possible cities or regions where participating football clubs could be feasibly based, as well as assisting clubs in the Philippines to conform to AFC club licensing regulations. The PFF initially set a goal to launch the national league in two to three years from the inception of the task force.
Singaporean sports marketing agency, Red Card Group led by former Singaporean international, R. Sasikumar, assisted the PFF in the initial stages of planning the league.

Nielsen study

was tasked to conduct a study in 2015, where they identified 13 key localities throughout the Philippines as viable home venues for participating clubs in the PFL. Among the factors considered were existing infrastructures, accessibility, capacity of fans to pay, the existence of sponsors, and fan appreciation of the sport.
"Philippines Football League" was the most-preferred name for a prospective league according to a Nielsen survey which covered interviews of 5,000 people nationwide. Other choices included P-League, Maharlika League, Liga Pilipina, and Philippine Premier League.

Launch

The Philippines Football League was officially announced on September 7, 2016 and would be replacing the UFL as the Philippines' top tier football league.
At least six teams from all over the Philippines was planned to be part of the PFL, with clubs from the UFL invited to join. Clubs were given until December 2016 to formally apply to join the PFL. The league competition was slated to begin in either the late March or early April in 2017.
By April 1, 2017, the PFF confirmed the participation of 8 clubs - Ceres–Negros, Davao Aguilas, Global Cebu, Ilocos United, JPV Marikina, Kaya FC–Makati, Loyola Meralco Sparks, and Stallion Laguna.
The official launching of the PFL happened on April 21, 2017 at the Shangri-La at the Fort in Taguig. The program was started by economist and PFL Task Force Chairman, Bernardo Villegas and ended by PFF President Mariano Araneta.

2017 and 2018 seasons

The inaugural season in 2017 was contested by eight clubs and had two stages; the regular season and a playoff competition. The regular season adopted a home-and-away, double round-robin format. The top four teams in the regular season advanced to the play-off round dubbed as the "Finals Series" to determine the champions of the league. Ceres-Negros won the inaugural league title.
For the second season, the Final Series was scrapped due to the introduction of the Copa Paulino Alcantara, the cup competition for the league. The number of clubs in the league was reduced from eight to six after the departure of Ilocos United F.C. and FC Meralco Manila. Ceres-Negros won their second title.

Replacement by the Philippine Premier League

In late-2018, Triple CH led by Thailand-based Filipino businessman Bernie Sumayao became involved in the league and has entered talks with PFF chairman Mariano Araneta. He was appointed as the league's new commissioner. Sumayao plans to institute financial and structural reforms in the league; including a rebrand of the league to the "Philippine Premier League" starting the 2019 season, more favorable sponsorship policies, and the disestablishment of the franchise fee in favor of a less expensive registration fee for clubs.
At least eight teams were projected to play in the PPL's inaugural season. However the end of the 2017 season also saw the departure of a third club in the league's history, Davao Aguilas F.C. Despite of this, the league has received applications from new clubs aspiring to join the PFL.

Revival and continued organization

The PPL effectively folded after the PFF announced that it has revoked its sanction of the league on May 3, 2019. The PFL was revived with a season planned to commence within the year. The new season proceeded as planned with Ceres–Negros claiming their third consecutive league title.
The PFL secured a three-year sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways on January 26, 2020, with the Qatari firm becoming the Airline partner and Title Sponsor of the PFL. Negotiations for deal occurred as early as November 2019. The league was formally renamed as "The Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways" as a result of the sponsorship.
The 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Competition format

The PFL follows a traditional home-and-away double round robin format sinces the 2018 season.
In the inaugural season of 2017, the league had two phases, the regular season, which adopted a home-and-away, double round-robin format, and the "Finals Series", a play-off round where the top four teams of the regular season played each other to determine the champions of the league. The Finals Series was not held for the succeeding seasons.
The league only had one division since its existence but there are plans to introduce a second division as the league expands, with a system of promotion and relegation with the PFL to be put in place. There was a proposal to convert the UFL to a second division tournament or youth league to the PFL.
The Copa Paulino Alcantara is the cup tournament of the PFL since the 2018 season.

Qualification for Asian competitions

;History of Asian qualification

Champions

;Champions
No.SeasonChampion
12017Ceres-Negros
22018Ceres-Negros
32019Ceres-Negros

;Wins by club
ClubWinsWinning years
Ceres-Negros32017, 2018, 2019

;Total titles won by region
RegionNumber of titlesClubs
Negros Occidental
3
Ceres–Negros

;By City / Town
City / TownChampionshipsClubs
Bacolod
3
Ceres–Negros

Organization

The Philippines Football League, along with the PFF Cup, was managed by Liga Futbol Inc.
Singapore-based Red Card Global, a sports marketing agency has exclusive commercial rights to the PFL. Each club had to pay a franchise fee to participate in the league. Reportedly in April 2017, the franchise fee was pegged at $500,000 by the PFF which can be paid by member clubs within a period of five years.
The league is professional in nature and not a developmental league. The clubs are intended to have a share of the league's broadcast revenues and sponsorship and each club are to be assisted by the league in securing their own sponsors.
The professional status of the league is recognized by the Games and Amusements Board, the regulatory body for professional sports in the Philippines.
In October 2018, the Philippines Football Federation was awarded the League Development Award by the Asian Football Confederation for its organization of the PFL.

Club identity

All PFL clubs were required under the PFF Club Licensing Regulations to have a name that includes the name of their home locality. The clubs were also required to have nicknames, crests, and colors based on the unique characteristics of their home locality.

Players and salaries

Participating clubs were allowed to have a minimum 25 and a maximum of 30 players. Reportedly in September 2016, only four foreigners are to be allowed per club, with at least one foreigner coming from an AFC country. On January 17, 2017, it was reported that this foreign player limit rule was yet to be finalized by the PFF.
The PFL reportedly planned to have a salary cap and a salary floor.

Youth development

All participating clubs in the PFL were required to commit to the organization and development of at least two youth teams, an under-18 and an under-15. The clubs' youth teams were required to participate in competitions organized by the Philippine Football Federation.

Stadiums

The clubs of the PFL were required to have a certified home stadium either through ownership of the stadium or having an active contract with the owners of the stadium. Likewise, all clubs were required to have access to or own a training field and facility.

Media coverage

The Philippine Football Federation had an agreement with the People's Television Network to broadcast matches of the league which was signed in April 2017 though the network coverage of the league didn't last at least half a season. Matches since then were live streamed through the MyCujoo online platform.
On February 22, 2018, the league had signed an agreement with Sportradar which would enable it livestream matches through Sportradar's Over-The-Top platform. In April 2018, Liga Futbol Inc. approved a budget to secure a broadcasting partner for the 2018 season.
For the 2019 season, all matches were streamed on Facebook and the league's official website.
The Qatar Airways sponsorship deal signed with the league in January 2020 includes provisions to broadcast select matches live on television.