The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball has suspended the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, headed by Tony Boy Liao, citing serious governance issues and alleged violations of its Code of Ethics that are currently under investigation by its independent Ethics Panel.
The statement was released on Friday evening (Manila time) — the same night Liao was celebrating his 70th birthday.
In a statement, the FIVB Board of Administration said the suspension was imposed in accordance with Article 13.1.1 of its Disciplinary Regulations and took effect immediately.
The global volleyball body noted that despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilize the situation in Philippine volleyball, the move was necessary to protect the sport, prioritize athletes, and safeguard long-term development programs in the country.
The FIVB also highlighted its continued commitment to the multi-year development partnership involving the FIVB, the Philippine Sports Commission, the Asian Volleyball Confederation, and the PNVF, designed to accelerate volleyball growth in the Philippines.
To maintain operations during the suspension, the FIVB has formed an Ad Hoc Committee tasked with temporarily overseeing the federation.
The panel includes FIVB officials Hila Asanuma, Mathieu Mériaux, Stephen Bock, Hitesh Malhotra, and legal consultant Alexa Dabao.
Its immediate mandate includes ensuring the participation of Philippine national teams in upcoming international competitions and coordinating the successful staging of the Women’s Volleyball Nations League stop in the Philippines.
“The suspension was deemed necessary to safeguard the sport, ensure athletes are prioritised, and uphold long-term development commitments,” the FIVB said, emphasizing that a structured pathway has already been set for the PNVF’s eventual reinstatement.
The development comes months after Liao was unanimously elected PNVF president on November 21, 2025, a move that effectively removed Tats Suzara from the federation’s leadership.
Meanwhile, the AVC has issued a strong statement reaffirming its full confidence in AVC President Suzara, rejecting the PNVF’s attempt to question his legitimacy.
In a memorandum dated May 27, 2026, the AVC Board of Administration stressed that Suzara remains the duly elected and legitimate president of the continental body, citing governance rules that place his mandate under the authority of the AVC General Assembly — not any single national federation.
The AVC emphasized that there is no constitutional basis allowing a national federation to unilaterally remove or undermine the AVC presidency. It further clarified that neither AVC statutes nor FIVB governance provisions support the PNVF’s position.
The board also pointed to Suzara’s tenure, highlighting expanded development programs, strengthened governance systems, and increased international engagement for Asian volleyball.
Importantly, the AVC noted that Suzara fully recused himself from discussions related to the memorandum, which was issued by AVC Secretary General Hugh Graham and approved by the Board of Administration.
The AVC also confirmed that its official position will be relayed to the FIVB for institutional record.
