Football Association of Singapore
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AFC | |
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Founded | 1892 |
FIFA affiliation | 1952 |
AFC affiliation | 1954 |
AFF affiliation | 1984 |
President | Lim Kia Tong |
General Secretary | Winston Lee |
Website | https://www.fas.org.sg/ |
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS; Chinese: 新加坡足球协会) is the governing body of football in Singapore. It was founded as the Singapore Football Association in 1892, which lays claim to being the oldest football association in Asia. The association changed to the Singapore Amateur Football Association on 14 May 1929[1] before adopting its current name on 13 January 1966.[2]
The FAS is responsible for the organisation and development of football and advancing the game at all levels in Singapore, including its flagship Singapore Premier League, and the men's, women's and youth national football teams. Providing a structure for the game to flourish and governing the running of football in Singapore, the FAS also ensures that the Laws of the Game are adhered to, from the professional S.League to amateur leagues.
The FAS also manages the organisation and running of league and cup competitions, the stewardship of international teams, the establishment of youth development, women's football, refereeing and coaching frameworks.
FAS president had been appointed by the governing People's Action Party for three decades. In 2015, global football governing body FIFA requested an end to political interference in the appointment of the national body's council members, and non-compliance would make Singapore ineligible to take part in international competitions. FAS has since changed its constitution in 2016 and held general elections for its council members.
Singapore national team
The Singapore national football team, administered by FAS, is the most successful side that incorporated foreign-born players in ASEAN Football Championship history, winning the regional international tournament four times in 1998, 2004/5, 2007 and 2012. Singapore is behind Thailand after the Thais won their 5th time in the regional competition (as of 2016).
Youth Development Programmes
The FAS focuses on football development and operates national age group programmes with U-15, U-16, U-17, U-18 and U-23 teams (known as Young Lions, who compete in the country's professional Singapore Premier League).
All Singapore Premier League clubs have also fully implemented their own programmes for the Under-14s, adding on to the existing U-16s and U-18s program.
Controversies
Political interference
The FAS council was first appointed by the government since 1968,[3] and has been controlled continually by government appointees for more than three decades from the 1980s to 2015.[4] From 2004 to 2015, the FAS president had been an elected member of the ruling People's Action Party, and was appointed by the Minister for Sports.[5] In 2015, global football governing body FIFA took issue with the politically-appointed leaders of the organisation.[6] It requested an end to political interference in the appointment of the national body's council members and non-compliance would cause a suspension in Singapore's FIFA membership, making the country ineligible to take part in international competitions.[7] FAS has since changed its constitution in 2016,[5][8] and held general elections for its council members in 2017. FAS president and then PAP member of parliament Zainudin Nordin declared the association had "not done anything wrong". "We have always been in consultation with FIFA over the last 30 years. They are aware of the uniqueness of our situation, and have always given us special dispensation."[9]
Outrage over lack of investment in grassroots football
During the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 2016, it was revealed that organising expenses on grassroots competitions like the National Football League (NFL), Island Wide League (IWL) and FA Cup amounted to about $70,000 during the previous financial year from April 2015 to March 2016. This figure which represented a mere 0.2 per cent of the FAS' total annual budget of S$35.8 million sparked outrage within the local football community with many perceiving it as a clear indication of FAS's lack of regard for grassroots football.[10] In a press conference on 13 October 2016, FAS vice-president Bernard Tan clarified that the amount did not include prize money and participation fees contributed by the teams counted under S. League account.[11]
Probe into alleged misuse of funds
In April 2017, Bill Ng, owner of 2 Singapore football clubs, Hougang United and Tiong Bahru Football Club (TBFC), claimed that he had donated S$850,000 to the FAS with the intention of helping Singapore football, but that the money had gone to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) instead.[12] The allegations came in the prelude to the first open election of the FAS council.[13] FAS secretary Winston Lee responded that Ng was aware of where the funds were used, that $200,000 went to the LionsXII, while $500,000 was used to support the AFF's Football Management System.[14][15] Lee said that it was former FAS president and Member of Parliament Zainudin Nordin who asked Ng to donate to the AFF, while Ng disputed the claim.[16][17] FAS responded with a statement that Ng's allegations of financial impropriety within FAS to damage the credibility of the association was regretable, and it was unusual that Ng had chosen to hide Zainudin’s role in the transaction.[18]
On 20 April 2017, the police raided the Football Association of Singapore over reports of financial misuse of funds filed by Sport Singapore. Zainudin Nordin, Winston Lee, Bill Ng and his wife Bonnie Wong, were arrested and subsequently released. The four assisted with the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) with the probe into the alleged misuse of funds and obstruction of club audits of TBFC.[19][20][21]
Former presidents
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Council members
- President: Lim Kia Tong
- Deputy President: Bernard Tan
- Vice-Presidents:
- Edwin Tong
- S. Thavaneson
- Teo Hock Seng
- Razali Saad
- Honorary Treasurer: Lelaina Lim
- Members:
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- General Secretary : Yazeen Buhari
Reference:[42]
FAS Tournaments
- Singapore Premier League
- FAS National Football League (2 Divisions)
- FAS Island Wide League
- FAS Women's Premier League
- FAS Women's National League
FAS Affiliates 2017
Singapore Premier League Clubs
- Albirex Niigata (S)
- Balestier Khalsa
- Geylang International
- Home United
- Hougang United
- Tampines Rovers
- Warriors FC
- Gombak United (sit-out club)
- Tanjong Pagar United (sit-out club)
- Academy Junior Football
- Admiralty CSC
- Admiralty FC
- Balestier United RC
- Bishan Barx
- Eunos Crescent
- GFA Sporting Westlake
- GFA Victoria
- Gymkhana FC
- Jungfrau Punggol
- Kaki Bukit SC
- Katong FC
- Kembangan United
- Police Sports Association
- SAFSA
- Siglap FC
- Singapore Cricket Club
- Singapore Khalsa Association
- South Avenue SC
- Starlight Soccerities
- Tiong Bahru FC
- Yishun Sentek Mariners
- Warwick Knights FC
Singapore M-League/Malaysia Cup Team (The Lions)
Former national players
Notable Former National Players – Singapore National Football Team
- Eric Paine (1968–1978)
- Fandi Ahmad (1978–1982, 1993–1999)
- Kadir Yahya (1993–1999)
- Lim Tong Hai (1992–1994)
- David Lee(1978–1994)
- Zulkarnaen Zainal (1994)
- Mohd Rafi Ali (1993–94)
- Nazri Nasir (1988–1994)
- Malek Awab (1980–1987, 1993–1994)
- K. Kannan (1980–1988, 1992)
- Razali Saad (1988–1994)
- Jefri Rahmat (1988–1994)
- D. Tokijan (1985–1991)
- Borhan Abu Samah (1985–1991, 1993–1994)
- Syed Faruk (1988–1994)
- Steven Tan (1993–1994)
- Lee Man Hon (1994)
- V Selvaraj (1994)
- Terry Pathmanathan (1978–1992)
- Abdul Malek (1980–1993)
- Hasnim Haron
- Zulkifli Kartoyoho
- Azhar Yusope
- Quah Brothers
- Dollah Kassim
- V. Sundramoorthy
- Aide Iskandar
- Yahya Madon (1984–1994)
See also
- Singapore national football team
- Singapore Premier League
- Singapore Cup
- Singapore League Cup
- Singapore Community Shield
- Kallang Roar the Movie
Notes
- ^ The FAS was under the management of the National Sports Promotion Board and later, the Singapore Sports Council.
References
- ^ http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfreepresswk19290522-1.2.122
- ^ "It's the F.A. of S'pore". The Straits Times. 14 January 1966. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
- ^ "Rodrigo heads the new line-up". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Provisional council appointed to oversee FAS". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Football: Football Association of Singapore leaders to be elected from 2016". The Straits Times. 1 October 2015. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Football: Fifa slams brakes on Singapore FA polls". The Business Times. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "The next FAS president?". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "FAS concedes to FIFA: No more political interference in football appointments". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Football: Singapore accepts FIFA directive to elect office-bearers". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "FAS spending on grassroots competitions sparks outrage". Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ "FAS says it spent S$250k on grassroots football". Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ "FAS calls Hougang United chairman's claims about donations 'baseless and untrue'". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "FAS saga: Ball in Fifa's court". The Straits Times. 26 April 2017. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "FAS probe: A $500,000 Singapore football fiasco". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "I thought S$500k donation was for local football, says Ng in twist". www.todayonline.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Football: Documents show that ties between Bill Ng and Zainudin Nordin go beyond sport". The Straits Times. 22 April 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "I have no business dealings with Bill Ng: Ex-FAS president Zainudin". www.todayonline.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Bill Ng 'aware' that S$500,000 donation meant for AFF: FAS gen sec". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "FAS scandal: Four, including Bill Ng and Zainudin, arrested and out on police bail". www.todayonline.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "FAS saga: Bill Ng, wife, Zainudin Nordin and Winston Lee all out on police bail". The Straits Times. 25 April 2017. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Will an election be a game changer for Singapore's Football Association?". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "This can be SAFA's make-or-mar year". The Straits Times. 1 March 1957. p. 14. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ Teoh, Eng Tatt (21 March 1963). "Hussein president of new SAFA council". The Straits Times. p. 16. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ Boey, Francis (21 September 1965). "Bakar is new Safa chief". The Straits Times. p. 17. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ "FAS chief resigns 'with regret'". The Straits Times. 21 September 1967. p. 17. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ^ "Woon is new FAS chief". The Straits Times. 27 March 1968. p. 19. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ Dorai, Joe (5 July 1968). "Rodrigo heads the new line-up". The Straits Times. p. 20. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ Dorai, Joe (19 June 1971). "Rodrigo: I've not failed as head of FAS". The Straits Times. p. 27. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ Dorai, Joe (16 March 1974). "Pates will head new FAS Council". The Straits Times. p. 26. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ "Ganesan now chairman". The Straits Times. 1 April 1976. p. 39. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ Dorai, Joe (1 April 1982). "Teo named new FAS chairman". The Straits Times. p. 39. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ Dorai, Joe (19 March 1988). "Maj Abbas named FAS chairman". The Straits Times. p. 43. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ "Hsu Tse-Kwang is new football chief". The Straits Times. 25 March 1991. p. 1.
- ^ "New boss Ibrahim to look into youth development". The Straits Times. 31 March 1994. p. 31.
- ^ "Minister Mah is new FAS president". The Straits Times. 23 March 1999. p. 1.
- ^ "Mah Bow Tan steps down as football chief". The Straits Times. 29 March 2004. p. 4.
- ^ "Ho Peng Kee is new FAS chief". The Straits Times. 29 March 2004. p. 2.
- ^ Wang, Meng Meng (25 March 2009). "New man Zainudin wants to continue FAS' success". The Straits Times. p. 35.
- ^ "The next FAS president?". AsiaOne. The New Paper. 8 November 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "SportSG concerned by delay by FAS in constitutional changes". ESPNFC.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "FAS election: Five things to know about new FAS president Lim Kia Tong". The Straits Times. 29 April 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Council & Committees". Football Association of Singapore. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
External links
- Official website
- Singapore at AFC site
- Singapore at FIFA site