Football body suspends ref in UAAP shower video scandal

The Philippine Football Federation on Wednesday indefinitely suspended referee Dennis Balore and ordered him to explain within 72 hours his alleged taking of cell phone videos of players of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines who were taking a shower at the Ateneo Blue Eagle gym last Sunday. The action came on Tuesday after the National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA), which has direct jurisdiction over Ballore, decided to slap a lifetime ban on the referee from all of NCRFA activities, based on the findings of its disciplinary committee. "We are giving referee Ballore due process. In the meantime, the PFF has suspended him indefinitely," said PFF general secretary Pablito Araneta, who was appointed by PFF president Jose Mari Martinez to head the committee to look into the case. "We have officially written Ballore demanding that he answer our letter in 72 hours before the PFF comes up with its official decision on the matter," Araneta added. "Referees are authority figures in football who command respect. This must not be compromised." NCRFA general secretary Angel Ramon Jose wrote Martinez on Tuesday saying: "The NCRFA, upon recommendation of its disciplinary committee, has banned Mr. Balore for life from any football activities, including but not limited to refereeing, coaching, playing, and administration within the jurisdiction of the NCRFA." "We also request that the Philippine Football Federation issue a similar ban on Mr. Ballore for the entire country," Jose said. Based on an official report of Ateneo security personnel, Ballore was caught around 4:30 p.m. taking videos of female UAAP volleyball players while they were showering at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym. Security guards confiscated Ballore's Nokia N91 cell phone, which contained the videos of his victims. Ballore is now detained at Camp Karingal in Quezon City. The victims, all players from Far Eastern University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, and Ateneo de Manila University, sued the referee for child abuse and unjust vexation. - GMANews.TV