# Football Association of Singapore

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is the governing body responsible for the administration of football in Singapore. Established in 1892 as the Singapore Football Association (SFA), it is the oldest football association in all of Asia. The FAS is also one of the founding members of both the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). It has been affiliated with FIFA since 1952.
The FAS oversees the organisation and development of football and advancing the game at all levels in Singapore, and is responsible for all aspects of the amateur and professional game in its territory. This includes its flagship domestic league, the Singapore Premier League (SPL), as well as the men's, women's and youth national football teams. The FAS is headquartered at the Jalan Besar Stadium, located at Kallang.
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.

## History

The association was also previously known as the Singapore Amateur Football Association (abbreviation: SAFA) on 14 May 1929 before adopting its current name on 13 January 1966.
The FAS council was first appointed by the government in 1968, and has been controlled continually by government appointees for more than three decades from the 1980s to 2015. From 2004 to 2015, its president had been an elected member of the ruling People's Action Party, and was appointed by the Minister for Sports.
In 2015, FIFA requested an end to political appointments of the national body's council members. FAS therefore changed its constitution in 2016 and held general elections for its council members starting from 2017. In response, the FAS also stated that "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."
As a result in the change of constitution, FAS, on the request of FIFA and its past presidents, held its first election for the FAS council. The election was contested by two teams led by Lim Kia Tong, FAS provisional council president, and Bill Ng, chairman of Hougang United and NFL side, Tiong Bahru FC. The election was held on 29 April 2017 and Lim won the elections.

## Youth Development Programmes
### National Football Academy

The National Football Academy, commonly referred to as NFA, is a football academy launched by the FAS on 13 August 2000 with the aim of developing Singapore's most promising young footballers. Trainees are scouted through a systematic talent identification process before being given the chance to develop their skills under some of the best youth coaches in the country. With teams at every age level from U-14 to U-18, the NFA co-ordinates the development of young Singaporean footballers at a national level through the domestic league system, international youth tournaments as well as overseas training attachments.
The NFA Under-18 team is made up of promising Singaporean players under the age of 18 and serves as a feeder squad mainly to the Young Lions as well as other clubs in the Singapore Premier League. The FAS enters both the NFA Blues U-17 and NFA Reds U-18 teams in the Prime League, the official reserve league of the Singapore Premier League, to allow their players to gain more exposure and match experience by playing against older and more established players. The NFA U-15 and U-16 teams also participate in the annual Lion City Cup organised by the FAS since 2011.
The NFA has produced many graduates who went on to represent the Singapore national team.
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.

### Unleash The Roar!

On 9 March 2021, Singapore launched a national football project called Unleash the Roar!, in line with the goal set by the FAS to qualify for the 2034 FIFA World Cup which garnered both praise and criticism from the football fraternity that failed the Goal 2010 project that was first mooted in 1998. Since the start of the project, a total of 12 school football academies have been established, of which two have dedicated programmes for girls. Unleash the Roar! aims to rally Singaporeans, inspire the next generation to create a safe, disciplined and professional sporting ecosystem. This project will provide talented Singaporeans a shot at a professional career at the highest levels of the sport and raise the bar for Singapore’s national football teams. This vision of Unleash the Roar! is based on involvement of government agencies including the Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth (MCCY) and the Ministry of Education (MOE), alongside SportSG, FAS, the football fraternity, corporate Singapore, and Singaporeans.
The project will spark a progression in Singapore’s football ecosystem with clear pathways. This includes increasing children and youth football participation in schools, scouting and development of talented players, enhancing knowledge and skill sets of coaches, and strengthening local professional football league. Players can also look forward to opportunities for training at top football academies as well as subsequently plying their trade at top leagues around the world.
In 2023, Singapore's top footballers aged 13 to 17 to form national youth squads will train at new national football development centre in Kallang.
On 6 February 2024, in a boost for large-scale talent development and identification, Singapore Youth League (SYL) was officially launched. The league, an initiative under the Unleash the Roar!, is Singapore’s inaugural nation-wide elite youth football competition and is set to feature over 200 registered teams from 52 clubs and academies across various age groups.
There will be six age-group categories – Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-13, Under-15, and Under-17 – under the new league system spanning across three divisions.

## Investments

During the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 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 S$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 $35.8 million sparked disapproval within the local football community with many perceiving it as FAS's lack of regard for grassroots football.
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 the domestic league account.

### Funding

In early April 2017, Bill Ng, chairman of SPL club Hougang United and NFL club 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. The allegations came in the prelude to the first open election of the FAS council.
FAS secretary Winston Lee responded that Ng was aware of where the funds were used, that $200,000 went to the former LionsXII, while $500,000 was used to support the AFF's Football Management System. Lee said that it was former FAS president Zainudin Nordin who asked Ng to donate to the AFF, while Ng disputed the claim. FAS responded with a statement that Ng's allegations of financial impropriety within FAS to damage the credibility of the association was regrettable, and it was unusual that Ng had chosen to hide Zainudin's role in the transaction.
On 20 April 2017, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) raided the FAS headquarters over alleged financial misuse of funds filed by Sport Singapore (formerly known as the Singapore Sports Council). Zainudin Nordin, Winston Lee, Bill Ng and his wife Bonnie Wong, were all arrested before being subsequently released on bail. 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. In September 2021, the CAD in accordance with the Attorney-General announced that they had concluded their investigations and that the individuals involved will not face charges.

## Former presidents

* Soh Ghee Soon: 1957–1963
* Hussein Kumari: 1963–1965
* Abu Bakar Pawanchee: 1965–1967
* Tay Soo Yong: 1967–1968
* Woon Wah Siang: 1968
* Lenny Rodrigo: 1968–1971
* NSPB / SSC: 1971–1974
* R.B.I. Pates: 1974–1976
* N. Ganesan: 1976–1982
* Teo Chong Tee: 1982–1988
* Abbas Abu Amin: 1988–1991
* Hsu Tse-Kwang: 1991–1994
* Ibrahim Othman: 1994–1999
* Mah Bow Tan: 1999–2004
* Ho Peng Kee: 2004–2009
* Zainudin Nordin: 2009–2016
* Lim Kia Tong: 2017–2022
* Bernard Tan: 2022–present (interim)

## Council members

| Name | Position |
| Vacant | Deputy President |
| Thavaneson Selvaratnam | Vice President |
| Teo Hock Seng | Vice-President |
| Razali Bin Md Sa’ad | Vice-President |
| Ben Teng Kian Jen | Vice-President |
| Dr Dinesh Nair | Member |
| Lionel Lewis | Member |
| Goh Tat Chuan | Member |
| Teo Chwee Lian Julie | Member |
| Harman Bin Ali | Member |
| Lim Tong Hai | Member |
| Mohammad Darwin Bin Jalil | Member |
| Muhamed Rizal Bin Rasudin | Member |
| Muhammad Zaki Bin Ma’arof | Member |
| Mr Desmond Ong | Member (co-opted) |
| Yazeen Buharim | General Secretary |
| Lelaina Lim | Treasurer |

## 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 Clubs 2025
### Singapore Premier League Clubs

* Albirex Niigata (S)
* Balestier Khalsa
* DPMM
* Geylang International
* Lion City Sailors
* Hougang United
* Tampines Rovers
* Tanjong Pagar United
* Young Lions

### FAS National Football League Clubs

* Academy Junior Football
* Admiralty CSC
* Admiralty
* Balestier United RC
* Bishan Barx
* Eunos Crescent
* GFA Sporting Westlake
* GFA Victoria
* Gymkhana
* Jungfrau Punggol
* Kaki Bukit SC
* Katong
* Kembangan United
* Police Sports Association
* SAFSA
* Siglap
* Singapore Cricket Club
* Singapore Khalsa Association
* South Avenue SC
* Starlight Soccerities
* Tiong Bahru
* Yishun Sentek Mariners
* Warwick Knights Singapore M-League/M-Cup Team (The Lions)

## List of top division clubs

A total of 25 clubs have played in the league from its inception in 1996 up to and including the 2024–25 season. The following 9 clubs are competing in the league during the 2023 season. There are two non-Singaporean clubs that currently compete in the Singapore Premier League – Albirex Niigata (S) is a satellite team of the Japanese club of the same name and DPMM of the Brunei.
| Team | Founded | Based | Stadium | Club crest |
| Albirex Niigata (S) | 2004 | Jurong East | Jurong East Stadium | Swan |
| Balestier Khalsa | 1898 | Toa Payoh | Toa Payoh Stadium | Tiger |
| DPMM | 2000 | Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei | Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium | Pakayun |
| Geylang International | 1973 | Bedok | Bedok Stadium | Eagle |
| Lion City Sailors | 1946 | Bishan | Bishan Stadium | Sailors |
| Hougang United | 1998 | Hougang | Hougang Stadium | Cheetah |
| Tampines Rovers | 1945 | Tampines | Our Tampines Hub | Stag |
| Tanjong Pagar United | 1974 | Queenstown | Queenstown Stadium | Jaguar |
| Young Lions | 2002 | Kallang | Jalan Besar Stadium | Merlion |

### Former clubs

| Team | Founded | Based | Stadium | Club crest | Years active |
| Gombak United | 1960 | Bukit Gombak | Bukit Gombak Stadium | Bull | 1998–2002 2006–2012 |
| Woodlands Wellington | 1988 | Woodlands | Woodlands Stadium | Ram | 1996–2014 |
| Sembawang Rangers | 1996 | Sembawang | Yishun Stadium | Stallion | 1996–2003 |
| Jurong Town | 1975 | Jurong | Jurong Stadium | Cobra | 1997–2003 |
| Warriors | 1979 | Choa Chu Kang | Choa Chu Kang Stadium | Rhinoceros | 1996–2019 |
Years indicates seasons active in the league.

## Former national players

Notable Former National Players – Singapore National Football Team
* Eric Paine (1968–1978)
* Fandi Ahmad (1978–1982, 1993–1999)
* Au-Yeong Pak Kuan (1979–1985, 1988–1989)
* 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)

## Notable Singapore referee

List of Singaporean referee that makes headlines overseas being involved in either FIFA or AFC tournaments:
* George Suppiah
* K. Visvanathan
* Shamsul Maidin
* Jeffrey Goh
* Abdul Malik Abdul Bashir

## Singaporean players that joined Overseas club

List of Singaporean players that plays in overseas countries:
* Trials and transfer rumours doesn't count
* Players that play in LionsXII previously doesn't count
* Youth career doesn't count
* In bold mean is currently playing overseas
| Country | Players | Club | League | Years in the league |
| Australia | Safuwan Baharudin | Melbourne City | A-League | 2015 |
| Belgium | Ilhan Fandi | K.M.S.K. Deinze | Challenger Pro League | 2022–2024 |
| Brazil | Egmar Gonçalves | Desportiva Ferroviária | Campeonato Capixaba | 2007 |
| Cambodia | Delwinder Singh | Angkor Tiger | Cambodian Premier League | 2023–present |
| Chile | Irfan Fandi | Universidad Católica | Chilean Primera División | 2014–2015 |
| India | Iqbal Hussain | Chennai City | I-League | 2020–2021 |
| India | John Wilkinson | Salgaocar | I-League | 2013 |
| India | Precious Emuejeraye | Churchill Brothers SC | I-League | 2017–2018 |
| Greece | Fandi Ahmad | OFI Crete | Alpha Ethniki | 1990 |
| Indonesia | Fandi Ahmad | Niac Mitra | Galatama | 1982–1983 |
| Indonesia | Agu Casmir | Persija Jakarta, Persebaya Bhayangkara | Indonesia Super League | 2010–2011, 2013 |
| Indonesia | Baihakki Khaizan | Persija Jakarta, Persib Bandung, Medan Chiefs | Indonesia Super League | 2009–2012 |
| Indonesia | Fahrudin Mustafić | Persija Jakarta, Persela Lamongan | Indonesia Super League | 2009–2011 |
| Indonesia | Khairul Amri | Persiba Balikpapan | Indonesia Super League | 2010–2011 |
| Indonesia | Noh Alam Shah | Arema, Persib Bandung, PSS Sleman | Indonesia Super League | 2009–2012, 2013 |
| Indonesia | Shahril Ishak | Persib Bandung, Medan Chiefs | Indonesia Super League | 2011–2012 |
| Indonesia | Precious Emuejeraye | Sriwijaya, Persija Jakarta, Persiba Balikpapan, Persidafon Dafonsoro | Indonesia Super League, Liga 3 | 2009–2013 |
| Indonesia | Ridhuan Muhammad | Arema, Putra Samarinda, Borneo FC | Indonesia Super League, Liga 1 | 2009–2014, 2018 |
| Indonesia | Ahmad Latiff | Persikabo Bogor | Liga 3 | 2000–2001 |
| Indonesia | Itimi Dickson | Persitara Jakarta Utara, Persidafon Dafonsoro | Liga 3 | 2007–2009, 2011– 2012 |
| Indonesia | Jacob Mahler | Madura United | Liga 1 | 2023–2024 |
| Indonesia | Song Ui-young | Persebaya Surabaya | Liga 1 | 2023–2024 |
| Japan | Anders Aplin | Matsumoto Yamaga | J2 League | 2018 |
| Malaysia | Fandi Ahmad | Kuala Lumpur FA, Pahang FA, | Liga Malaysia, Liga Semi-Pro | 1986–1989, 1991–1992 |
| Malaysia | V. Sundramoorthy | Kedah FA, Pahang FA, Kelantan | Liga Semi-Pro | 1989–1990, 1994 |
| Malaysia | Aide Iskandar | Johor FA | Malaysian Super League | 2006–2007 |
| Malaysia | Ahmad Latiff | Johor FA, PDRM | Malaysian Super League | 2006–2007, 2007–2008 |
| Malaysia | Agu Casmir | PDRM | Malaysian Super League | 2008 |
| Malaysia | Noh Alam Shah | PDRM | Malaysian Super League | 2008 |
| Malaysia | Yasir Hanapi | PDRM | Malaysian Super League | 2017 |
| Malaysia | Anumanthan Kumar | Kedah Darul Aman | Malaysian Super League | 2021 |
| Malaysia | Faris Ramli | PKNS, Perlis FA, Terengganu | Malaysian Super League | 2018–2019, 2020 |
| Malaysia | Fazrul Nawaz | Sabah FA | Malaysian Super League | 2015 |
| Malaysia | Hariss Harun | Johor Darul Ta'zim | Malaysian Super League | 2014–2021 |
| Malaysia | Khairul Amri | Felda United | Malaysian Super League | 2019–2020 |
| Malaysia | Madhu Mohana | Negeri Sembilan | Malaysian Super League | 2018 |
| Malaysia | Sahil Suhaimi | Sarawak FA | Malaysian Super League | 2017 |
| Malaysia | Safuwan Baharudin | PDRM FA, Pahang FA, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan | Malaysian Super League | 2016–present |
| Malaysia | Shahdan Sulaiman | Melaka United | Malaysian Super League | 2018 |
| Malaysia | Shakir Hamzah | Kedah Darul Aman, Perak | Malaysian Super League | 2019–2021 |
| Malaysia | Baihakki Khaizan | Johor Darul Ta'zim II | Malaysia Premier League | 2014 |
| Malaysia | Shahril Ishak | Johor Darul Ta'zim II | Malaysia Premier League | 2013–2016 |
| Malaysia | Hafiz Abu Sujad | Johor Darul Ta'zim II | Malaysia Premier League | 2018 |
| Malaysia | Precious Emuejeraye | Putrajaya SPA | Malaysia Premier League | 2015–2016 |
| Netherlands | Fandi Ahmad | FC Groningen | Eredivisie | 1983–1985 |
| Switzerland | V. Sundramoorthy | FC Basel, BSC Old Boys | Swiss Super League | 1987–1989 |
| Thailand | Baihakki Khaizan | Muangthong United, Udon Thani, Trat, PT Prachuap | Thai League 1, Thai League 2 | 2018–2020 |
| Thailand | Hassan Sunny | Army United | Thai League 1, Thai League 2 | 2015–2016, 2018–2019 |
| Thailand | Zulfahmi Arifin | Chonburi, Suphanburi, Samut Prakan City, Sukhothai | Thai League 1, Thai League 2 | 2018, 2020–2021 |
| Thailand | Gabriel Quak | Royal Thai Navy | Thai League 1 | 2017 |
| Thailand | Irfan Fandi | Port F.C. | Thai League 1 | 2024–present |
| Thailand | Irfan Fandi | BG Pathum United | Thai League 1 | 2019–2024 |
| Thailand | Ikhsan Fandi | BG Pathum United | Thai League 1 | 2022–present |
| Thailand | John Wilkinson | Insee Police United | Thai League 1 | 2011 |
| Thailand | Song Ui-young | Nongbua Pitchaya | Thai League 1 | 2023 |
| Thailand | Harhys Stewart | BG Pathum United, Chiangrai United | Thai League 1 | 2024–present |
| Thailand | Jacob Mahler | Muangthong United | Thai League 1 | 2024–present |
| Thailand | Ilhan Fandi | BG Pathum United | Thai League 1 | 2024–present |
| Thailand | Jordan Emaviwe | Chiangrai United | Thai League 1 | 2025–present |
| Thailand | Izwan Mahbud | Nongbua Pitchaya, Trat, Samut Prakan City | Thai League 2, Thai League 1 | 2018–2021 |
| Thailand | Ryhan Stewart | Chiangmai, BG Pathum United | Thai League 2, Thai League 1 | 2022–2024 |
| Thailand | Hafiz Abu Sujad | BBCU | Thai League 2 | 2017 |
| Norway | Ikhsan Fandi | Raufoss IL, FK Jerv | Norwegian First Division | 2019–2021 |
| Wales | Daniel Bennett | Wrexham A.F.C. | Football League Third Division | 2002–2003 |