Global's fate sealed as embattled club banned by GAB over financial crisis

Global Football Club is no more, after the Games and Amusements Board have blacklisted the embattled former powerhouse of Philippine club football owing to its financial woes Wednesday, particularly the unpaid wages that rocked them for the past two years.

With debts to players and staff reaching to ₱5.8 million, as well as total inaction from the club's top brass led by Mark Jarvis, it left chairman Abraham Mitra with no other choice but to punish the former three-time league champions on its letter from September 7, six days after it was slapped with a 90-day suspension by the First Instance Board of the Philippine Football Federation.

That means that Global is now barred from renewing its license or do business with the said government agency until they reply and answer its allegations of financial irregularities for the blacklist to be lifted.

It was a sad end to the decade on the part of the club, wherein during the time of Dan Palami as its owner it was a force in the sport in the country since being promoted to the top flight of the old UFL as Division 2 champions in 2010.

Global won three league titles in a space of six years, even winning the double in 2016 that gave them the chance to play in the prestigious Philippines Football League the following year.

Since its bridesmaid finisish in the inaugural staging of the Philippines Football League, the club went on a free-fall in the next two seasons, finishing bottom of the league with their atrocious performance that saw them being routinely routed, even conceding in double figures in the process.

The coronavirus pandemic did not even helped them as numerous allegations have come to light about its woes, with the statements made by graphics artist Saya Jaruda and former Manchester United youth product John Cofie the most damaging as the sport is nearing to its much-anticipated restart of the PFL.

Mitra himself was saddened with the plight of those who had been with the club whose lives and careers have took a hit.

"I hope this serves as a deterrent and lesson to others who may do the same. GAB's mandate is to look after the welfare of our professional athletes and we intend to do just that," he said in a statement.

Should Global still fail to respond to the charges, GAB has the authority to revoke its license, pursuant to Presidential Decree 871.

"Global FC management should understand that it is our duty to protect professional athletes, particulary when there are allegations of non-payment of compensation. Thus, to avoid legal actions in court, we urge Global FC to comply with the provisions of the contract they entered into," added Mitra.

Photo: PFL (FILE)