S-League funding reduced by almost 20%, clubs to receive S$888,200 for 2018
Veteran players like Daniel Bennett, 39, will still be able to play in the 2018 S.League. Photo:Low Lin Fhoong
SINGAPORE — After months of uncertainty over funding for the 2018 S-League season, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) revealed on Monday (Dec 18) that S-League clubs will each receive S$888,200 in subsidies for next year — a dip of 19 per cent from this season.
Of that amount, clubs will get S$600,000 in basic subsidies, with the remainder to cover other costs such as insurance, licensing fees, facility rental, and club management. According to the FAS, clubs will receive the full amount if they meet certain key performance indicators (KPIs).
Ahead of the FAS media conference on Monday, talk among the fraternity was that the S-League could see a budget cut of almost 50 per cent for next year, from its current sum of S$16 million to just S$8.5 million. The annual subsidies for Singapore’s only professional sports league — which was started in 1996 — comes from the Tote Board, with the money disbursed by national governing body Sport Singapore.
The funds from the Tote Board form a significant portion of S-League clubs’ annual budget, which is pegged — on average — at between S$1.2 million and S$1.5 million.
TODAY understands that the FAS will receive less for the S-League next year, with the overall multi-year funding for the league for the next five years to decrease by some 19 to 20 per cent.
Despite the reduction in funding, the FAS Council said on Monday that securing funding was a positive step for the revamped S-League. “This gives confidence to the clubs as they can look at the long term and sign players with longer term contracts,” said FAS vice-president S. Thavaneson.
“If you take that (talk) that S$17 million funding would be cut to S$8.5 million, the clubs should be getting half (of what they used to get). A lot has come because we tightened our belts within the FAS."
FAS president Lim Kia Tong added: “Cost efficiency is another area we are focusing on…with the understanding that funding will have to be reprioritised, we have decided to embark on shared services to maximise holistic support and to leverage on economies of scale.”
In a bid to rejuvenate the ailing S-League, which has suffered from poor attendances in recent years, the FAS also unveiled four pillars of the revamped S-League on Monday: youth development, capability development for coaches and club administration, cost efficiency, and a vibrant football culture.
Chief among the changes is the introduction of new competition rules aimed at developing more young local players for Singapore football.
For the 2018 season, clubs competing in the S-League will have to register at least six under-23 players in their squads — comprising between 19 and 22 players — and eight have to be under the age of 30. At least three under-23 players must be named in the starting line-up for all league games, and a player from this category must be replaced by an under-23 player if he is substituted in the first half.
Clubs can register other players for the remaining slots, including a maximum of two foreign players. Any increase of squad size will have to be filled by under-23 players, up to a maximum of 25 players.
The rules will be applicable to all six local clubs — Balestier Khalsa, Geylang International, Home United, Hougang United, Tampines Rovers, and Warriors FC. However, it excludes the FAS development squad Young Lions.
The FAS is still in discussion with Brunei DPMM on the competition rules. Japanese side Albirex Niigata, which swept all four major trophies this season, will have a minimum of nine under-21 players, a minimum of nine who are under-23, one player from the open category, and an option for two local under-23 players.
Local sports governing body Sport Singapore is pleased with FAS's new plans.
"We are supportive of the FAS’s plan for the S. League, which emphasises youth development, community engagement, and growing a strong coaching base. For any sport, a strong pipeline through high quality and broad-based youth development is vital to its long-term success. The FAS’s efforts must therefore be well led, disciplined and sustained in order to encourage the best talents to join up," said Mr Toh Boon Yi, Chief, Singapore Sport Institute, Sport Singapore.
"The FAS leadership has signalled its commitment to make the necessary changes to turn the fortunes of Singapore football around. It is imperative that key stakeholders get behind them and the implementation of the plans as 'One Team Singapore'."
The new S.League season, which will kick off on March 31 with the opener between Albirex and Tampines Rovers at the Community Shield Carnival at the Singapore Sports Hub, will also see the Yo-Yo test replacing the 2.4km run as the league’s mandatory fitness test. It will also be compulsory for every club to engage a fitness coach who will work closely with the FAS’ fitness department.
“The mindset of lackadaisical training has to change, and players have to think like professionals,” said Mr Lim. “The culture of the management of the club has to change. It must be a professional mindset. When players play fast-moving football and it brings us glory…there will be more sponsors, more money.
“I hope that while the landscape of football changes, the start will be in the S-League.”
Mr Lim added that several plans and proposals for the 2018 season have yet to be finalised, and an announcement will be made when the details are confirmed.
This includes the possibility of a name change for the S-League, with previous media reports suggesting that the 22-year-old competition could be renamed the Singapore Premier League.
