FAS names 6 footballers who broke curfew, says they let nation down

SINGAPORE — The six Singapore football players who broke curfew while on duty at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila have “let down the entire nation” and can expect stiff sanctions, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said in a statement on Friday.

The FAS named the six — Tajeli Salamat, Joshua Pereira, Zulqarnaen Suzliman, Zharfan Rohaizad, Kenji Rusydi and Lionel Tan — and said that they will face a disciplinary hearing immediately upon their return to Singapore.

They were found to have broken curfew time on Sunday, after a 3-0 defeat to Thailand.

“The FAS is extremely disappointed with the conduct of the six players of the Singapore under-22 national team,” the national governing body for football said in a statement.

“Their actions contravened the Code of Conduct that all national players are expected to abide by and, as such, they will be dealt with by the FAS.

“Unless there are compelling justifications, these players can expect to face stiff sanctions from the FAS.”

Head coach Fandi Ahmad said the players were in the Philippines not only as representatives of the FAS but also Team Singapore and “should have known the value of the flag they are bearing”.

“This was another unnecessary setback for the team during what turned out (to be) a difficult campaign for us.”

Four of the players — Zharfan, Zulqarnaen, Tajeli and Pereira — featured in Tuesday’s 0-1 loss to Vietnam, which knocked Singapore out of the tournament at the group stages, the third SEA Games in a row that the country had suffered an early exit.

Singapore also lost 2-0 to Indonesia, and their only victory was a 7-0 thrashing of minnows Brunei.

FAS president Lim Kia Tong said that the curfew was in place to ensure the players’ safety and security, to instil discipline and to ensure that they are well rested before matches.

“Breaking curfew hours is deplorable and totally against the very values which every footballer is expected to uphold as the ambassador of Singapore at competitions,” said Mr Lim, who also chairs a disciplinary and ethics committee at the Games.

“At that stage of the competition when they should have been fully focused on bringing pride back to the game for Singapore, their behaviour affected and dented the capability and morale of the team and they have let down the entire nation.

“Without any question, they will face the FAS disciplinary committee which will be convened without delay after their return.”