The Philippine Premier League (PPL) was a short-lived top-flight association football league in the Philippines sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). It was intended as a successor league to the Philippines Football League (PFL) which ran for two seasons. The first and only PPL season had a single match day on April 27, 2019 before it was folded, after the PFF withdrew its sanction of the league.
History
Foundation
The Philippines Football League (PFL), the precursor of the PPL, was established in 2016 as a league with a national scope as opposed to the United Football League which was concentrated in Metro Manila. The PFL had two seasons from 2017 to 2018 which were both won by Ceres–Negros F.C.
However, issues plagued the league and it was decided that the PFL would be scrapped. The PFL followed a home-and-away format which caused financial and logistical problems for the league's participating clubs. The PFL saw Ilocos United and Meralco Manila withdrawing from the league due to financial reasons. The league itself lacked sponsorship, generated insufficient revenue, had limited attendance and television coverage.
Bernie Sumayao of the Triple CH Group entered into negotiations with Philippine Football Federation President Mariano Araneta sometime in the latter half of 2018 to discuss about planned reforms regarding the system of the Philippines' top-flight football league. Sumayao was later appointed as the commissioner of the upcoming Philippine Premier League which was to replace the PFL and is to absorb the remaining clubs of the PFL. The PFL then saw the withdrawal of Davao Aguilas F.C. by its owner Jefferson Cheng reportedly due to the PFF's decision to award Sumayao's group the organization of the league despite's Cheng's volunteering to do the same.
The PPL, sometimes described as a rebranded PFL, replaced it and was described as a "new neutral independent league" which has an objective to develop football in the Philippines, according to its commissioner Bernie Sumayao.
"Philippine Premier League" was among the proposed names mentioned in the Nielsen Study commissioned for the then-planned establishment of the PFL.
The official launch of the PPL was held on January 23, 2019 at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati. At least 11 clubs expressed interest to join the league with the organizers confirming on March 1, 2019 the participation of seven clubs for the inaugural season.
Launch and dissolution
The Philippine Premier League had several issues before the first match took place. The commencement of the league was delayed after the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) ruled two participants Mendiola and Philippine Air Force as ineligible to participate due to their licensing issues with the national football association. The season's launch was moved to April 27 from March 31 so that the two clubs can resubmit relevant documents to settle their licensing issues. In mid-April 2019, PFF President Mariano Araneta expressed confidence that the league will push through despite the two club's licensing issues and noted that the two teams already appealed their case.
Stallion Laguna and Global Makati withdrew from the league a day before the first match day due to loss of confidence to the league's organizers. In a joint conference they stated that the lack of professionalism, transparency and disagreement with the centralized format of the league as their reasons for their withdrawal.
The league commenced as scheduled on April 27, 2019 with changes in the opening fixtures. Philippine Air Force and Mendiola figured in a 2–2 draw despite both teams' licensing issues have not been settled yet, while Kaya-Iloilo had a 3–0 victory over Green Archers.
The withdrawal of the two teams caused a debate on social media regarding the status of the league. PPL Commissioner Bernie Sumayao has stated that they technically never joined the league since did not sign any participation agreement or pay the participation fee, but has expressed openness to have a discussion with relevant stakeholders. He also responded to accusation that the league organizers were never in contact with Stallion and Global Makati and stated that he had tasked league director Ritchie Gannaban reach out to them and find out what would it take for the two clubs to formally join the league. Sumayao also cited the fact that an AFC elite referee officiated the match between Kaya and Green Archers United as proof of the support of the PFF of the league.