The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is the governing body responsible for the administration of football in Singapore. Established in 1892 as the Singapore Football Association (SFA), it is the oldest football association in all of Asia. The FAS is also one of the founding members of both the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). It has been affiliated with FIFA since 1952.
The FAS oversees the organisation and development of football and advancing the game at all levels in Singapore, and is responsible for all aspects of the amateur and professional game in its territory. This includes its flagship domestic league, the Singapore Premier League (SPL), as well as the men's, women's and youth national football teams. The FAS is headquartered at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
The FAS also manages the organisation and running of league and cup competitions, the stewardship of international teams, the establishment of youth development, women's football, refereeing and coaching frameworks.
History The FAS was formed in 1892 as the Singapore Football Association (SFA).
On 14 May 1929, the SFA changed its name to the Singapore Amateur Football Association (SAFA), to distinguish itself from the Selangor Football Association.
On 13 January 1966, after the independence of Singapore in 1965, the SAFA changed its name to the Football Association of Singapore.
The FAS council was first appointed by the government in 1968, and has been controlled continually by government appointees for more than three decades from the 1980s to 2015. From 2004 to 2015, its president had been an elected member of the ruling People's Action Party, and was appointed by the Minister for Sports.
In 2015, FIFA requested an end to political appointments of the national body's council members. FAS therefore changed its constitution in 2016 and held general elections for its council members starting from 2017. In response, the FAS also stated that "We have always been in consultation with FIFA over the last 30 years. They are aware of the uniqueness of our situation, and have always given us special dispensation."
As a result in the change of constitution, FAS, on the request of FIFA and its past presidents, held its first election for the FAS council. The election was contested by two teams led by Lim Kia Tong, FAS provisional council president, and Bill Ng, chairman of Hougang United and NFL side, Tiong Bahru FC. The election was held on 29 April 2017 and Lim won the elections.
Youth development programmes
The National Football Academy (NFA) was launched by the FAS on 13 August 2000 with the aim of developing Singapore's most promising young footballers.
In 2013, the FAS revamped its Centre of Excellence (COE) system to develop talent.
Although the NFA had ceased to operate, the FAS continued to organise both an Under-15 League and an Under-17 League through the COE until 2023.
The Under-15 and Under-17 leagues are now part of a broader range of age-group leagues under the Singapore Youth League, covering several age groups.
Former presidents
Soh Ghee Soon: 1957–1963 Hussein Kumari: 1963–1965 Abu Bakar Pawanchee: 1965–1967 Tay Soo Yong: 1967–1968 Woon Wah Siang: 1968 Lenny Rodrigo: 1968–1971 NSPB / SSC: 1971–1974The FAS was under the management of the National Sports Promotion Board and later, the Singapore Sports Council. R.B.I. Pates: 1974–1976 N. Ganesan: 1976–1982 Teo Chong Tee: 1982–1988 Abbas Abu Amin: 1988–1991 Hsu Tse-Kwang: 1991–1994 Ibrahim Othman: 1994–1999 Mah Bow Tan: 1999–2004 Ho Peng Kee: 2004–2009 Zainudin Nordin: 2009–2016 Lim Kia Tong: 2017–2022 Bernard Tan: 2022–2025 (interim) Forrest Li: 2025–present
Current FAS council members Council member from 2025–2029. NamePositionSource Desmond OngDeputy President Bill NgVice President Sean BaiVice-President Hariss HarunVice-President Tan Li YuVice-President Bruce Liang Member Arivan Shanmugaratnam Member Roy Quek Member Yeong Sheau ShyanMember Aleksandar ĐurićMember Aide IskandarMember Andy TanMember Syed FarisMember Dinesh NairMember
List of collaborations Club and association collaboration Japan Football Association (2011–present) LALIGA (2015–present) French Football Federation (2022–present) Tokyo Verdy (2024–present) Ventforet Kofu (2024–present) Aspire Academy (2025–present)
Regional collaborations Johor Football Association (2023–present) BG Pathum United (2024–present)
Former collaborations Saudi Arabian Football Federation (2022–2024)
With FAS and JFA signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the Singapore national team also sees themselves playing a couple of friendly against Japanese club in Japan as part of their preparation for the 2024 ASEAN Championship. While the Coach Overseas Attachment (COA) programme, an initiative by the Unleash The Roar will see Singapore coaches immersed in the day-to-day dealings of first-team training. In May 2024, Isa Halim and Noh Alam Shah was sent to Tokyo Verdy on a training stint. Following successful stints by Singaporean former national icons, in January 2025, Ratna Suffian and Miur Rafik Taha was sent to Tokyo Verdy on a coaching attachment, while Young Lions coach Nazri Nasir joined another J2 League club Ventforet Kofu as the club assistant coach assisting head coach Shinji Otsuka for the 2025 season.
While LALIGA also send a couple of team to compete in the JSSL 7's in Singapore with the likes of Valencia, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal. In 2022, 14-years old footballer Denzel Ari Thrumurgan is set to be the first Singaporean to train and study at the LaLiga Academy in Madrid In 2023, 17-years old Loo Kai Sheng and 16-years old Uchenna Eziakor were the players sent to LaLiga Academy.
FAS tournaments Singapore Premier League FAS National Football League (2 divisions) FAS Island Wide League Women's Premier League FAS Women's National League Singapore Youth League
List of top division clubs A total of 25 clubs have played in the league from its inception in 1996 up to and including the 2024–25 season. The following 9 clubs are competing in the league during the 2023 season. There are two non-Singaporean clubs that currently compete in the Singapore Premier League – Albirex Niigata (S) is a satellite team of the Japanese club of the same name +ClubFoundedBasedStadiumClub crestAlbirex Niigata (S)2004Jurong EastJurong East StadiumSwanBalestier Khalsa1898Toa PayohToa Payoh StadiumTigerGeylang International1973BedokBedok StadiumEagleLion City Sailors1946BishanBishan StadiumSailorsHougang United1998HougangHougang StadiumCheetahTampines Rovers1945TampinesOur Tampines HubStagTanjong Pagar United1974QueenstownQueenstown StadiumJaguarYoung Lions2002KallangJalan Besar StadiumMerlion
Former clubs TeamFoundedBasedStadiumClub crestYears activeGombak United1960Bukit GombakBukit Gombak StadiumBull1998–2002 2006–2012Woodlands Wellington1988WoodlandsWoodlands StadiumRam1996–2014Sembawang Rangers1996SembawangYishun StadiumStallion1996–2003Jurong Town1975JurongJurong StadiumCobra1997–2003Warriors1979Choa Chu KangChoa Chu Kang StadiumRhinoceros1996–2019
See also Singapore national football team Singapore women's national football team Singapore national futsal team Singapore football league system
Notes
References
External links
Singapore at AFC site Singapore at FIFA website