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SportSG not withholding funds from FAS, says CEO Lim

SINGAPORE — Sport Singapore (SportSG) CEO Lim Teck Yin has refuted claims that the local sports governing body is withholding funds from the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).

Mr Lim Teck Yin clarified that SportSG is merely waiting for the new FAS council to submit its plans before disbursing the funds. TODAY file photo

Mr Lim Teck Yin clarified that SportSG is merely waiting for the new FAS council to submit its plans before disbursing the funds. TODAY file photo

SINGAPORE — Sport Singapore (SportSG) chief executive officer Lim Teck Yin has refuted claims that the national sports governing body is withholding funds from the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).

The New Paper reported last week that the FAS is dipping into its reserves to fund the various national teams as SportSG has not released its annual grant for the national sports association since the beginning of the year.

The 2018 S.League season could also be hit by a significant cut in funding, said the report. 

Speaking to media on the sidelines of the Singapore Football Week launch at the SportSG auditorium on Thursday (July 13), Mr Lim clarified that SportSG is waiting for the new FAS council — which was voted in at the end of May — to submit its plans before disbursing the funds. The FAS receives over S$2 million in annual grants from SportSG. 

“(To say) that we have not yet extended the funds, that we are withholding funds, that’s the wrong label to use,” said Mr Lim.

“Fundamentally in our funding construct, we extend funding on the basis of plans and requests that are submitted. Once the FAS’ plans and requests are submitted, we will examine them and fund it accordingly. So, it’s not a situation where they have requested for funding and we have then said ‘no, we are going to hold that back’.”

FAS president Lim Kia Tong said on Thursday that he is hoping for the issue to be resolved “as soon as possible”.

“Of course for funds, it is urgently needed in many areas,” said the football chief. “We have so many teams training ... We have (things like) coaches’ payments, payments for pitches, payment for referees.

“Funding for the management, the operation and administration of FAS, it is there in their (SportSG’s) hands.

“There is a need for SportSG to be satisfied that certain requirements that they ask for are fulfilled, like the FAS’ plans on running of football (and) reorganisation, that sort of thing. We will hope to see the funding come into our account so that we don’t dip too much and for too long into our reserves. 

“We have a good working relationship with SportSG, so ultimately the funding should be there.”

Mr Lim Teck Yin added that both parties are still in discussion over the FAS’ future plans, and there is “no rush” for the FAS to present its blueprints.

It is understood that the FAS has been given an August deadline to finalise its plans. 

Mr Lim added: “They are not running into a cash flow situation and I think we are comfortable with the pace (of discussions).”

While the FAS’ funding issue is set to be resolved, the association — and S.League clubs — could face another headache next year with the ailing league reportedly set for a funding cut next year. 

The Tote Board had previously disbursed some S$25 million in grants directly to the FAS annually, with an estimated S$16 million going to the S.League.

Each S.League club operates on an annual budget of between S$1.2 million and S$1.5 million, with the Tote Board’s annual subsidy contributing some S$800,000 to that amount. 

Starting this year, the administration of the grants was handed over to SportSG in a move that meant that the FAS would no longer manage its own coffers. 

However, Mr Lim did not address the budget cuts directly.

“I think that’s too premature to talk about,” he said. “I think, more importantly now, it is to discern what are the right plans and strategies for the FAS going forward.”

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