UAAP Football Commissioner's Office releases Statement

c/o UAAP

The UAAP on Wednesday morning shared this statement from its Commissioner's Office for Football, which is led by Rely San Agustin.

Statement reads as follows: 

The UAAP Season 88 Football Commissioner’s Office would like to clarify recent reports circulating online regarding some officials who have officiated matches in the collegiate men’s and women’s divisions in Season 88.

In the past few days, reports suggested that three officials had been suspended due to certain calls made during recent matches. The Commissioner’s Office wishes to clarify that this is not the case.

The non-selection of head referees Meliton Pelayo and Mick Jon Pineda, as well as assistant referee Annalou Arrogante, for upcoming matches is not a suspension. Instead, it serves as a cooling-off period between the officials and certain teams.

All three remain active members of the refereeing pool and are expected to officiate matches again in the future.

The UAAP, in collaboration with the Philippine Football Federation, continually reviews refereeing performances across all collegiate and high school division matches to ensure fairness and improve officiating standards.

Please note that any decisions or sanctions issued by the Commissioner’s Office—whether involving officials, coaches, or student-athletes—apply only to UAAP matches and do not affect external leagues.

Finally, the Commissioner’s Office appeals to fans on social media to refrain from publicly shaming referees online.

Officials play a crucial role in the smooth operation of league matches.

While their decisions may not always satisfy teams or fans, these calls are consistently reviewed to help improve the performance of referees and the overall officiating pool throughout the season.