Singapore suspends players for 'hooliganism'
Reuters - Wednesday 22 June 2011, 03:34
SINGAPORE - Players and officials from
two Singapore football clubs have been hit with suspensions and
fines for "disgraceful acts of hooliganism" at an S.League game
in May.
A pre-match brawl between Singapore champions Etoile F.C.
and Hougang United erupted on May 23 as the teams warmed up at
Hougang's stadium. Four people were treated in hospital for
minor injuries.
Two players from Etoile were suspended from all competitions
dating back to the incident. A player and an official from
Hougang United received the same punishment.
Both clubs were docked five points and fined S$10,000
($8,100), of which S$5,000 is suspended until the end of 2011.
"Both clubs engaged in acts of hooliganism which is both
disgraceful and unprofessional of them," said Disciplinary
Committee Chairman K. Bala Chandran in a statement.
"We made the decision based on the facts and investigations
that were done."
Football Association of Singapore President Zainudin Nordin
said he was confident the disciplinary committee's verdict had
been a "fair and just" one.
"I would also like to reiterate that the FAS has a zero
tolerance policy on violence and will come down hard on any
players or officials who put the game of football into
disrepute," he added.