# 2020 Singapore Premier League

The 2020 Singapore Premier League (also known as the AIA Singapore Premier League due to sponsorship reasons) was the 3rd season of the Singapore Premier League, the top-flight Singaporean professional league for association football clubs, since its rebranding in 2018. The champions of the 2020 Singapore Premier League qualified for the AFC Champions League group stage automatically.
DPMM FC were the defending champions, but withdrew from the league prior to the season re-starting in October 2020. The league was won by Albirex Nigata (S) on the last matchday after beating Hougang United 1-0. Tampines Rovers qualified for the AFC Champions League as the highest ranked local team while Lion City Sailors and Geylang International qualified for the AFC Cup.

## Format

The following key changes were made to the rules for the 2020 season:
* Singapore Premier League clubs can sign a maximum of four foreign players in the 2020 season, up from three as compared to 2019.
* From 2019, only four stadiums host regular matches. The 8 teams (excluding DPMM) will host the matches in the following stadiums: Our Tampines Hub (Tampines Rovers and Geylang International), Jalan Besar Stadium (Young Lions and Hougang United), Bishan Stadium (Home United and Balestier Khalsa) and Jurong East Stadium (Albirex Niigata and Warriors FC).
* For 2019, Albirex is allowed to sign as many locals as their budget allows. However, the club are only allowed one Singaporean over the age of 23. Also, Albirex must have two Singaporeans in their starting lineup for each game.
* Each team is now able to register up to 28 players in their squad, an increase of 3 players as compared to 2018.
* FAS had instructed Warriors FC to sit out the 2020 Singapore Premier League season due to their financial issue.
* Tanjong Pagar United to replace Warriors FC in Singapore Premier League 2020.
* Young Lions to play their home games at Jurong West Stadium, while Hougang United will move back to their previous home at Hougang Stadium. Tanjong Pagar United will take over Warriors and played in Jurong East Stadium.
* Home United changed its name to Lion City Sailors Football Club ahead of the new season after being taken over by SEA Group. It is the 1st club in the SPL to be privatized.
* Local SPL clubs are required to have a minimum of six U-23 players for a squad size of 19 to 25 players; this increases to seven (squad size 26), eight (27) and nine (28).
* Players in the League shall be allocated jersey numbers 1 to 50. Jersey numbers that have been registered shall not be reused during the same season.

### Disruptions due to COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore and more generally in Southeast Asia, the season was halted from 27 March.
The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth approved the season recommencement on 17 October. Competition rule changes included the provision for two water breaks during a match, and clubs will be able to use up to five substitutions (in defined windows after half-time).
On 26 October 2020, DPMM FC withdrew from the league due to travel restrictions.

## Teams

A total of 8 teams competed in the league. Albirex Niigata (S) from Japan is the only foreign team invited.

### Stadiums and locations

| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
| Albirex Niigata (S) | Jurong East Stadium | 2,700 |
| Balestier Khalsa | Bishan Stadium | 3,500 |
| Geylang International | Our Tampines Hub | 5,000 |
| Hougang United | Hougang Stadium | 3,800 |
| Lion City Sailors | Bishan Stadium | 3,500 |
| Tampines Rovers | Our Tampines Hub | 5,000 |
| Tanjong Pagar United | Jurong East Stadium | 2,700 |
| Young Lions | Jurong West Stadium | 3,200 |

### Personnel and sponsors

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Head coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Main Shirt sponsor | Other shirt sponsors |
| Albirex Niigata (S) | Keiji Shigetomi | Kazuki Hashioka | Mizuno | Canon | Kirin EnglishCentral Lensmode Kubota Reeracoen Gain City Nippon Medical Care Fitogether |
| Balestier Khalsa | Marko Kraljević | Zaiful Nizam | Adidas | Jeep | Weston Corporation Project Vaults StarBalm |
| Geylang International | Mohd Noor Ali | Yuki Ichikawa | FBT | Epson | Heng Motor Chiang Kong Broadway D2D Sports SoundTech |
| Hougang United | Clement Teo | Khairulhin Khalid | Warrix | | SportCenter by Zup Polar Water |
| Lion City Sailors | Aurelio Vidmar | Izzdin Shafiq | Puma | SEA | Shopee |
| Tampines Rovers | Gavin Lee | Yasir Hanapi | Mizuno | Hyundai Avante | ANA Courier Express StarBalm |
| Tanjong Pagar United | Hasrin Jailani | Faritz Abdul Hameed | Thorb | | |
| Young Lions | Nazri Nasir | Jacob Mahler | Nike | | Catapult |

### Coaching changes

| Team | Outgoing Head Coach | Manner of Departure | Date of Vacancy | Position in table | Incoming Head Coach | Date of appointment |
| Young Lions | Fandi Ahmad | Contract End | 31 December 2019 | Pre-Season | Nazri Nasir | 1 January 2020 |
| Lion City Sailors | Noh Rahman (Interim) | End of Caretaker | 31 December 2019 | Pre-Season | Aurelio Vidmar | |
| Tanjong Pagar United | NA | NA | NA | Pre-Season | Hairi Su'ap | 1 January 2020 |
| Tanjong Pagar United | Hairi Su'ap | Resigned | 14 October 2020 | 7th | Hasrin Jailani | 14 October 2020 |

### Foreigners

Singapore Premier League clubs can sign a maximum of four foreign players in the 2020 season, up from three as compared to 2019. However, one of them has to be 21 years old or younger on 1 January 2020.
Albirex Niigata can sign up unlimited number of Singaporean players for the new season. Only 1 local player above 23 years old is allowed.
Players name in bold indicates the player was registered during the mid-season transfer window.
| Club | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | U21 Player 1 | SG U-23 Player 1 | SG U-23 Player 2 | SG U-23 Player 3 | Former Players |
| Albirex Niigata (S) | Hyrulnizam Juma'at | Fairoz Hassan | Gareth Low | Ong Yu En | Iman Hakim | Aizil Yazid | Kenji Austin | Sharul Nizam Zamani Zamri Daniel Goh |
| Balestier Khalsa | Shuhei Hoshino | Šime Žužul | Kristijan Krajcek | Ensar Brunčević | | | | |
| Geylang International | Yuki Ichikawa | Barry Maguire | | Kamolidin Tashiev | | | | Gilson Varela Panagiotis Linardos |
| Hougang United | Charlie Machell | Zachary Anderson | | Maksat Dzhakybaliev | | | | Stipe Plazibat |
| Lion City Sailors | Song Ui-young | Kaishu Yamazaki | Stipe Plazibat | | | | | Andy Pengelly |
| Tampines Rovers | Kyoga Nakamura | Jordan Webb | Boris Kopitović | Zehrudin Mehmedović | | | | |
| Tanjong Pagar United | Takahiro Tanaka | Shodai Nishikawa | Luiz Júnior | Yann Motta | | | | |
Note 1: Albirex is allowed to sign as many locals as their budget allows. However, the club are only allowed one Singaporean over the age of 23.
Note 2: Hougang United releases Charlie Machell and Zac Anderson before the season end as their contracts ended 30 November 2020 were not extended.

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Albirex Niigata (S) (C) | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 14 | +18 | 32 | |
| 2 | Tampines Rovers | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 11 | +16 | 29 | Qualification for AFC Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Lion City Sailors | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 44 | 18 | +26 | 27 | Qualification for AFC Cup group stage |
| 4 | Geylang International | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 22 | −4 | 20 | Qualification for AFC Cup group stage |
| 5 | Balestier Khalsa | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 28 | −6 | 19 | |
| 6 | Hougang United | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 24 | −5 | 15 | |
| 7 | Young Lions | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 38 | −26 | 9 | |
| 8 | Tanjong Pagar United | 14 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 33 | −19 | 5 | |
* 1 2 The foreign club – Albirex Niigata (S) – as well as the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) under-21 team, Young Lions, are ineligible for any AFC competition spots.

## Results

| Home \ Away | ALB | TAM | LCS | GEY | HOU | BAL | YLI | TPU |
| Albirex Niigata (S) | — | 1–4 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 |
| Tampines Rovers | 2–0 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 |
| Lion City Sailors | 2–3 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 5–0 | 6–1 |
| Geylang International | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | — | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 2–1 |
| Hougang United | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | — | 1–2 | 4–1 | 3–2 |
| Balestier Khalsa | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–7 | 2–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–2 | 2–2 |
| Young Lions | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 2–1 |
| Tanjong Pagar United | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–4 | — |

## Statistics
### Top scorers

    As at 5 December 2020
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Stipe Plazibat | Hougang United / Lion City Sailors | 14 |
| 2 | Tomoyuki Doi | Albirex Niigata (S) | 11 |
| 3 | Boris Kopitović | Tampines Rovers | 9 |
| 3 | Song Ui-young | Lion City Sailors | 9 |
| 4 | Jordan Webb | Tampines Rovers | 7 |
| 4 | Luiz Júnior | Tanjong Pagar United | 7 |
| 5 | Sime Zuzul | Balestier Khalsa | 6 |
| 6 | Reo Nishiguchi | Albirex Niigata (S) | 5 |
| 6 | Gabriel Quak | Lion City Sailors | 5 |
| 7 | Ryoya Tanigushi | Albirex Niigata (S) | 4 |
| 7 | Shuhei Hoshino | Balestier Khalsa | 4 |
| 7 | Adam Swandi | Lion City Sailors | 4 |
| 7 | Khairul Nizam | Geylang International | 4 |
| 7 | Shawal Anuar | Hougang United | 4 |

### Top Assists

    As at 5 December 2020
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
| 1 | Gabriel Quak | Lion City Sailors | 7 |
| 2 | Shahdan Sulaiman | Lion City Sailors | 6 |
| 3 | Stipe Plazibat | Hougang United/ Lion City Sailors | 5 (1 for Hougang, 4 for LCS) |
| 3 | Jordan Webb | Tampines Rovers | 5 |
| 3 | Kristijan Krajček | Balestier Khalsa | 5 |
| 3 | Nur Adam Abdullah | Young Lions | 5 |

### Clean Sheets

    As at 5 December 2020
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Kei Okawa | Albirex Niigata (S) | 8 |
| 2 | Syazwan Buhari | Tampines Rovers | 6 |
| 3 | Hassan Sunny | Lion City Sailors | 4 |
| 4 | Zaiful Nizam | Balestier Khalsa | 3 |
| 5 | Hairul Syirhan | Geylang International | 2 |
| 6 | Zainol Gulam | Geylang International | 1 |
| 6 | Kenji Syed Rusydi | Tanjong Pagar United | 1 |
| 6 | Ridhuan Barudin | Hougang United | 1 |

### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| Stipe Plazibat | Hougang United | Young Lions | 4–1 | 1 March 2020 |
| Stipe Plazibat | Lion City Sailors | Balestier Khalsa | 7–1 | 7 November 2020 |
| Jordan Webb | Tampines Rovers | Young Lions | 3–1 | 17 November 2020 |

### Penalty missed

| Player | For | Against | Date |
| Shuhei Hoshino | Balestier Khalsa | Tampines Rovers | 1 March 2020 |

### Man of the Match

    As of 5 December 2020
| Rank | Player | Club | Man of the Match |
| 1 | Stipe Plazibat | Hougang United / Lion City Sailors | 4 (2 for Hougang & 2 for LCS) |
| 1 | Jordan Webb | Tampines Rovers | 4 |
| 2 | Gabriel Quak | Lion City Sailors | 3 |
| 2 | Tomoyuki Doi | Albirex Niigata (S) | 3 |
| 3 | Khairul Nizam | Geylang International | 2 |
| 3 | Barry Maguire | Geylang International | 2 |
| 3 | Christopher van Huizen | Geylang International | 2 |
| 3 | Ryosuke Nagasawa | Albirex Niigata (S) | 2 |
| 3 | Luiz Júnior | Tanjong Pagar United | 2 |
| 3 | Shawal Anuar | Hougang United | 2 |
| 3 | Kyoga Nakamura | Tampines Rovers | 2 |

### Discipline
#### Player

* Most yellow cards: 7
** Ahmad Syahir (Balestier Khalsa)
* Most red cards: 1
** Adam Hakeem (Geylang International)
** Delwinder Singh (Tanjong Pagar United)
** Fadli Kamis (Balestier Khalsa)
** Firdaus Kasman (Geylang International)
** Khairul Nizam (Geylang International)
** Hami Syahin (Geylang International)
** Shahfiq Ghani (Hougang United)
** Shahrin Saberin (Geylang International)
** Zainol Gulam (Geylang International)
** Zulfadhmi Suzliman (Balestier Khalsa)

## Awards
### Monthly awards

| Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month | Young Player of the Month | Young Player of the Month | Reference |
| Month | Coach | Club | Player | Club | Reference |
| April | | | | | |

## Singapore Premier League Awards night winners

| Awards | Winners | Club |
| Player of the Year | Gabriel Quak | Lion City Sailors |
| Young Player of the Year | Saifullah Akbar | Lion City Sailors |
| Coach of the Year | Keiji Shigetomi | Albirex Niigata (S) |
| Top Scorer Award | Stipe Plazibat | Lion City Sailors |
| Fair Play Award | Albirex Niigata (S) | Albirex Niigata (S) |
| Referee of the Year | Ahmad A'Qashah | — |
AIA Team of the Year :
| Goalkeeper | Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers) | Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers) | Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers) | Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers) | Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers) | Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers) | Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers) | Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers) | Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers) | Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers) | Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers) | Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers) |
| Defence | Tajeli Salamat (Lion City Sailors) | Tajeli Salamat (Lion City Sailors) | Tajeli Salamat (Lion City Sailors) | Kaishu Yamazaki (Lion City Sailors) | Kaishu Yamazaki (Lion City Sailors) | Kaishu Yamazaki (Lion City Sailors) | Kazuki Hashioka ( Albirex Niigata (S)) | Kazuki Hashioka ( Albirex Niigata (S)) | Kazuki Hashioka ( Albirex Niigata (S)) | Daniel Bennett (Tampines Rovers) | Daniel Bennett (Tampines Rovers) | Daniel Bennett (Tampines Rovers) |
| Midfield | Kristijan Krajcek (Balestier Khalsa) | Kristijan Krajcek (Balestier Khalsa) | Kristijan Krajcek (Balestier Khalsa) | Kyoga Nakamura (Tampines Rovers) | Kyoga Nakamura (Tampines Rovers) | Kyoga Nakamura (Tampines Rovers) | Gabriel Quak (Lion City Sailors) | Gabriel Quak (Lion City Sailors) | Gabriel Quak (Lion City Sailors) | Song Ui-young (Lion City Sailors) | Song Ui-young (Lion City Sailors) | Song Ui-young (Lion City Sailors) |
| Attack | Luiz Júnior (Tanjong Pagar United) | Luiz Júnior (Tanjong Pagar United) | Luiz Júnior (Tanjong Pagar United) | Luiz Júnior (Tanjong Pagar United) | Luiz Júnior (Tanjong Pagar United) | Luiz Júnior (Tanjong Pagar United) | Stipe Plazibat (Lion City Sailors) | Stipe Plazibat (Lion City Sailors) | Stipe Plazibat (Lion City Sailors) | Stipe Plazibat (Lion City Sailors) | Stipe Plazibat (Lion City Sailors) | Stipe Plazibat (Lion City Sailors) |