UFL: Global victories in Preseason Cup overturned due to Sanchez contract issues

UFL general manager Cesar De Lazzarabal has confirmed that Global FC's result against the Loyola Meralco Sparks in the second round of the Preseason Cup, among other wins, has been overturned, handing the Sparks a 3-0 victory, due to Global having fielded striker Rufo Sanchez.

The result means that Loyola will get the three points and qualify ahead of Kaya for the Preseason Cup semifinals. The Sparks finish top of the group on goal difference, ahead of Global in second, even though they lost both their games on the pitch. As a result, Kaya is now out of the competition.

The UFL also confirmed that Global and Loyola get the top two spots in their group and qualify for the semifinals over the team they actually lost to and who otherwise would have qualified.

Sanchez move on hold as Global and Rufo reprimanded

The dispute comes from the now-apparent and drawn-out legal battle, since Stallion challenged Global’s signing of Rufo Sanchez, claiming they still have him under contract. The dispute has now overshadowed the preseason and affected more than just the two clubs involved, with Kaya being eliminated from the competition as a direct consequence.

[Related: Big transfer news as Rufo Sanchez, Paul Mulders, and Angel Guirado all sign with Global]

Global and Sanchez himself believed his contract had expired last August 15, leading to his signing with Global, who are preparing to represent the country in the Singapore Cup. However, Stallion head coach Ernie Nierras asserted that his club still had the rights to player, with reports revealing that Sanchez's contact contained an option to extend it for another year.

The dispute boils down, therefore, to whether or not Stallion extended the contract in time and with proper legality.

The UFL is now mediating the dispute to determine if Sanchez is a free agent. Still uncertain, UFL General Director Cesar De Larrazabal, sent two separate reprimands to Global and Sanchez personally preventing the super scorer from playing and overturning previous results.

In a letter dated September 24, De Larrazabal explained that:

“The UFL is still to pass a decision on whether you are a free agent or a Stallion FC player and until such time you are still considered officially a registered player of Stallion FC.

“In view of the above, you are directed to unconditionally refrain from training, and playing in all competitions, tournaments, leagues and other events with Global FC and any other football club without the prior written notice of Stallions FC (sic) until such time you are officially declared by the UFL as a free agent.”

The UFL added, “After review of the dispute by the Disciplinary Committee, it was decided that Global should not have played Rufo Sanchez until the pertinent documents were acquired. The UFL is yet to pass judgement on whether Sanchez is a free agent or a Stallions FC (sic) player. The UFL will communicate any updates on the proceedings in due course.”

If it is determined that Sanchez is not a free agent, Global needs to secure a Player Transfer Certificate to make the signing official.

As a result of fielding Sanchez, the UFL also overturned two of Global's victories in the first group stage, their 6-1 thrashing of Union and 11-1 demolition of Manila All Japan. Officially losing both those games 3-0 instead, Global only narrowly qualified for the next round on goal difference, in second place with six points and behind group winners the Green Archers, despite winning all their games on the field.

With the UFL Cup just a couple of weeks away, the dispute is threatening to overshadow the next competition too. It seems only the release of Sanchez’s contract with Stallion and the proof of extension will help clear up the matter.

Kaya kicked out of the preseason

The result of the confusion has Kaya getting kicked out of the preseason. In the second group phase, Global, Loyola, and Kaya had been drawn together in the strongest group with Stallion, Green Archers, and Nomads in the other. Both Global and Kaya beat a weakened Loyola side with the majority of the Sparks players out of the country, participating in a competition in Indonesia. Global defeated Kaya 4-0 in the other game of the group, after the league served the official reprimands, preventing the Spanish striker from playing.

With Global's victories being overturned, all three teams ended with three points, leading to Loyola now topping the group.

The confusion is sure to raise the ire of fans of several clubs. Upon hearing the news, Kaya’s Manager Paul Tolentino said, “For the record, I don’t care about this tournament. But out of principle this is preposterous.”

Preseason semifinalists

And so controversially, Loyola and Global are into the next round of Preseason Cup. Meanwhile, in the second group, after losing the core of their squad among the clearout of seventeen exiting players, Stallion was thrashed by Nomads 5-1. In turn, Nomads took a 4-0 beating against the Archers, who themselves lost to Stallion in another case of football rock, paper, scissors.

Reigning UFL League and Cup Champions Stallion FC, however, are eliminated on goal difference, with Nomads and the Archers therefore qualifying for the next round. - RAF/AMD, GMA News