SportSG urges speedy resolution to FAS constitution amendments

SINGAPORE – If you don't want local football to end up in a prolonged state of limbo, then please do your best to pass the proposed amendments to the Football Association of Singapore's constitution at its Extraordinary General Meeting (EOGM) on Nov 7. By doing so, you will ensure that elections for the FAS Council can take place as soon as possible.

This was the message that national sports authority Sport Singapore (SportSG) had for the FAS affiliates that it met on Saturday (Oct 22) morning in a two-hour long engagement session. Thirty-nine of the 46 FAS affiliates were invited for Saturday's session, but only 15 were present.

During the session, the National Football League (NFL), Island Wide League (IWL), and Women’s Premier League (WPL) clubs shared their grievances over the state of local football, while SportSG also took the time to clarify any confusion about the draft amemndments to the FAS constitution, which needs to be passed in order for the first-ever FAS elections to be called.

According to SportSG, the meeting was called because of its growing concerns over recent events and media reports surrounding the FAS’ proposed amendments to its constitution which will enable it to carry out the election.

The new amended constitution was due to be put to the vote during the FAS’ Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sept 24, but the FAS, subsequently decided to remove it from the agenda. The FAS said this was because several affiliates had requested more time to study the proposed changes.

Since then, after considering the proposals put forth by the affiliates, the FAS decided to make just two changes to the original draft of the amended constitution before submitting it to Fifa for approval.

This prompted several affiliates to complain that they were not sufficiently consulted by the FAS beforehand, leading to suggestions that a majority of them would vote to reject the constitution at the upcoming EOGM on Nov 7.

However, a SportSG spokesperson said that they hoped the constitution could be passed at the EOGM in order for the elections to be called quickly, so a new FAS council can be voted in and start their governance of local football as soon as possible.

“We have been observing what’s been going on in recent months and we grew a little concerned about the whole process,” the spokesperson said.

“Looking at the way things have gone, we think that there is a possible danger that the two different components of the process - voting to pass the constitution, and voting in the FAS elections to select new officals to govern and lead Singapore football, may be mixed up.

“If we continue to go through this period where no decision is made and the constitution is not passed, then the FAS will remain in limbo.

“A lot of capacity will then be invested in this situation and as a result, attention will be drawn away from important things such as making sure our various national football teams can perform, especially with the AFF Suzuki Cup coming up next month, and next year’s SEA Games football tournament.

“And just like any National Sports Association (NSA), should the FAS fail to meet certain requirements and objectives, then we will consider cutting their funding, although that is not the desired scenario.”

Once the amended constitution is passed, SportSG will appoint an interim FAS Council whose sole objective is to take the association through to the elections.

Should the constitution not be passed at the upcoming EOGM however, Sport SG will likely have to extend the tenure of the current council, which is due to end on Nov 15.

The spokesperson also reiterated that SportSG would remain a neutral party throughout the elections, although he added that he hoped the new FAS Council would be filled with “experienced, passionate people who care deeply about football".

A club representative, who did not want to be named, said he was heartened with the way SportSG handled the engagement session.

“Since the whole FAS constitution and elections saga started, this is the most refreshing meeting that we’ve had,” he explained. “Compared to the meetings we had with the FAS previously, we felt that this was truly a two-way session, and it was the first time where we felt we were engaged and had our opinions heard.

“We left reassured that as a football fraternity, we have the full support of SportSG. They helped us to better understand the constitution and the consequences of the elections, and the kind of implications it might have on the sport.”