Warriors FC fined S$26,000 for failing to pay players, coach, and for breach over hiring security officers

SINGAPORE — Warriors Football Club, the most successful club in the Singapore Premier League, was fined S$26,000 in a district court on Tuesday (Jan 11) over seven employment related charges including its failure to pay players over S$70,000 on time.

A representative from the club had pleaded guilty to six charges under the Employment Act for not paying five players and a coach, as well as to another charge under the Private Security Industry Act over the employment of security officers. 

In sentencing the nine-time domestic champions, the court took into consideration 127 similar charges.

The club has been ordered to pay the first instalment of the fine on Jan 31, with the last tranche due on May 3 in 2023. 

The club’s lawyer, Mr Azri Imran Tan from the law firm IRB Law LLP, said his client was unable to pay the fine in full at present due to financial issues, which “ironically are what led to the commission of the Employment Act charges in the first place”.

The lawyer said the club began encountering financial difficulties in September 2018, when it was reported that the club had defaulted in paying the salaries of some players and staff.

Mr Tan said the financial issues escalated the following year, and it has only worsened with the onset of Covid-19.

Nevertheless, Mr Tan said the club has since made full restitution to the staff involved in the six Employment Act charges.

OWED SALARIES

According to court documents, the club had failed to pay six employees, who were under contracts of service, their total salaries upon completion of their service.

Among the five footballers who had the highest salary in arrears was French striker Jonathan Behe. He was owed S$20,253.85 between Sept 1 and Nov 7 in 2019.

The other players, who were owed between three and four months’ salary in 2019 were:

• Mr Ignatius Ang - S$15,992.50
• Mr Muhammad Fadhil Noh - S$15,925
• Mr Poh Yi Feng - S$12,794 
• Mr Yeo Hai Ngee - S$11,995

Also owed salary that year was the club’s coach, Mr Lee Bee Seng, who was not paid from June to December. He was owed S$33,238.80.

‘MISTAKEN BELIEF’

The charge involving the Private Security Industry Act occurred on March 18 in 2016 when the club organised a match against Albirex Niigata Singapore Football Club at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Court documents stated that as the Singapore Premier League had mandated enhanced security requirements for football matches during that period, the club had to employ additional security officers to conduct security bag checks at the entrance to the Jalan Besar Stadium for the match. 

While the security officers were trained and licensed to be employed, the club had failed to notify the licensing officer appointed under the Private Security Industry Act of their employment, either before or after the match.

Mr Tan said the club had notified only the Singapore Premier League of the employment of the officers in the “mistaken belief” that this sufficed for legal purposes.

The club had appealed against a S$4,000 fine imposed at the time for the offence, but it was rejected by the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department. Court documents said the club did not respond to the rejection, nor did it make any payment despite multiple reminders to do so.

Addressing the club’s financial status, Mr Tan said it had “no intention to make excuses for failing to pay its employees their salaries”.  

“However, it is hoped that this Honourable Court will understand that the club did not actively, wilfully, or deliberately take a decision not to pay salaries,” he said.

The truth of the matter, the lawyer said, was that at the material time, the club was in a position of genuine financial distress and revenues were significantly less than expected.

“The club simply had no cashflow to make the needful payments during the relevant period of offending.”

Still, he said the club is not one that is “beyond hope”. 

“It has been an institution in Singapore football. The current management are doing their best to clean up, and restore the club to its former glory.”