PFL goes back to original match format for the upcoming bubble

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

The Philippines Football League (PFL) scrapped their new league format heading into the Carmona bubble season and will revert to their old point system.

Previously, PFL commissioner Coco Torre confirmed that the league bubble will hold a finals series after the single-leg round robin. But after another meeting, they decided to go back to their old and familiar system.

“I know that initially, we announced for a final series after the single-leg round robin but the teams were discussing key factors such as player fatigue, physical fitness, given the fact that for at least seven months there was no football at all,” Torre said.

The PFL commissioner further added that one of the main reasons why they chose to go back to their old format is to lessen the career-ending and long-term injuries the players might face.

Also, the upcoming bubble season will grant the temporary amendment issued by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and will increase the number of substitutions from three to five.

“We don’t really want to play a lot of matches in a compressed duration so that’s why we took out the three matches to determine the champion of the league. We’ll determine the champion of the league with standings through points, goals for, and the rest,” shared commissioner Torre.