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FAS says it spent S$250k on grassroots football

SINGAPORE - Contrary to figures derived from its annual report, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) now claims it has spent close to S$250,000 on grassroots football over the past financial year.

The Football Association of Singapore has been criticised of not doing enough for grassroots competitions like the Island Wide League and National Football League. Photo: FAS

The Football Association of Singapore has been criticised of not doing enough for grassroots competitions like the Island Wide League and National Football League. Photo: FAS

SINGAPORE - Contrary to figures derived from its annual report, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) now claims it has spent close to S$250,000 on grassroots football over the past financial year.

The FAS financial statement for the financial year ended March 31, 2016, showed the association’s net spend on grassroots competitions — the National Football League (NFL), the Island Wide League (IWL), Singapore 9s and FA Cup — to be about S$70,000.

This figure represents just 0.2 per cent of the FAS’ total annual budget of S$35.8 million, which pales in comparison to the millions spent on the S.League (S$16 million), the now defunct LionsXII (S$4 million) and women’s football (S$1 million).

The revelation sparked outrage among the local football community, with many perceiving it as a clear indication of FAS’s lack of regard for grassroots football.

However, according to FAS vice-president Bernard Tan, this S$70,000 only represents direct cost. Instead, he estimated the amount the FAS has spent on grassroots football to reach up to “a quarter of a million”.

Describing the S$70,000 reflected in the FAS financial statements (above) as "inaccurate" at a media briefing on Wednesday (Oct 12), Tan said the "spending is substantially more".

"The $70,000 is net subsidy. We get the clubs to pay a token amount to play in the NFL and IWL because it shows that they take it seriously," he said. "The net amount of NFL/IWL – the direct cost that we put in the account is S$95,000. So the net amount is S$70,000 and the rest are participation fees. That’s just the way we account.

"We do not account other things that are also contributed into this because it’s under the competitions department, which is counted under the S.League account. But it’s using the same principles.

"The S$70,000 figure bandied around is therefore inaccurate. Our spending is substantially more. We have an estimation, the number we have come up is somewhere along a quarter of a million.”

When asked by TODAY to substantiate Tan’s claims, an FAS spokesman said: “We wish to clarify that Mr Bernard Tan’s statement that the FAS has spent a ‘quarter of a million’ on grassroots football refers to the amount spent on the National Football League (NFL) and the Island-Wide League (IWL).

"The direct expenses for these two leagues, which go towards the rental of facilities, remuneration of referees, and the prize monies, is S$112,300. The net direct costs of running the competitions amount to $70,700, after factoring in collected income of S$41,500 via participation fees.

"There are, however, other cost factors involved, when a more comprehensive and holistic view of funding is adopted – this was the point which Mr Tan was trying to share with the media."

Asked to elaborate on the “other cost factors”, the FAS spokesman said: “These additional costs, which have been derived from our cost allocation principle, include the estimated shared cost borne by FAS to run these competitions, alongside other initiatives and programmes such as the S.League.

“These can be further broken down to include headcount, overheads and facilities. This amount was estimated conservatively around S$180,000 based on allocation, leading to a total number of about S$250,000.”

Asked why the FAS did not include the “other cost factors” in its financial statement on grassroots football, the spokesman said: “The statement of accounts, as reflected in the FAS Annual Report, is prepared in accordance with Singapore Financial Reporting Standards.

"Accordingly, the figures have been audited and classified according to the nature of expenses, rather than programmes. The accounts, audited by a public accounting firm, give a true and fair view of the financial position of the FAS.”

Another FAS vice-president Lim Kia Tong, however, admitted that the association could have paid more attention to developing football at a grassroots level over the last few years.

“If you look at the FAS, as well as other countries’ FAs, the main focus is usually about elite football,” said Lim, a lawyer. “So a lot of emphasis and resources have been channelled towards that direction.

“But, in the process, if we’ve attached too little weight to grassroots football, then yes, we must do something (to correct it). I’ve said (for the past two years) that we must pay more attention to NFL and IWL, and more attention should be focused on grassroots. We have to grow the base upwards, so that we can develop a
larger and better pool of players for the national team.”

Lim promised that FAS would look into ways to change its strategies so as to grow the NFL and IWL, but said it can only happen if the association has the necessary funding.

FAS receives its funding from world football governing body Fifa, local sports governing body Sport Singapore, the Tote Board, as well as sponsorships.

“If there is a change in policy to attach more weight and value to grassroots football, then more funding can be allocated,” explained Lim. “However, it will first depend on (FAS’) belief and conviction to justify why grassroots football deserves more attention.

"If the clubs are interested in football development at a grassroots level, they must sit with (FAS) management, firm up their policies and see how we can push it.

“Once the policy and funding are in place, we will then see how to help each individual club operate on a more professional basis.”

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