What was obviously meant to show a happy dressing room at Tanjong Pagar United while they shape up for the new 2023 AIA Singapore Premier League season has now seriously backfired.
An Instagram story posted on 7 February by new Jaguars recruit Tajeli Salamat in the Tanjong Pagar United dressing room inadvertently and unfortunately ended up exposing team-mate Raihan Rahman vaping in the backdrop.
The photo also shows midfielder Blake Riccuito sitting next to him.
Coincidentally, it was both their birthdays on 7 February, the day the video was posted.
The video was submitted to TMSG by an eagle-eyed reader through a Facebook DM.
The IG story has since been deleted by the former Geylang International and Lion City Sailors defender.
In response to TMSG’s queries, team manager Noh Alam Shah said that Raihan has since been fined 10 per cent of his monthly salary.
It is also understood that the Football Association of Singapore could take further action.
VAPING IS ILLEGAL
Vaping is illegal in Singapore and the penalty for possessing and using a vape is a fine of up to $2000.
The latest figures from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) have revealed that there is a rise in the vaping trend.
In 2022, 4,916 people were caught for the offence, which comes with a fine not exceeding $2,000, compared with 1,266 in 2020, and 4,697 in 2021.
According to the Straits Times, a smoking and vaping survey by Milieu in September 2022 also showed illicit vaping to be on the rise in Singapore, with 4.3 per cent of adults using alternative products like vapes. This was a 10 per cent increase from 3.9 per cent in September 2021, and a 43 per cent increase from 3 per cent in the first quarter of 2021.
REACTIONS TO THE VAPING JAGUAR
A former National Sports Association general manager, who spoke to TMSG said that if he had to deal with the problem, he would have a chat with the athlete and then the athlete’s parents, if he or she was below the age of 21.
“We will take action internally,” he said speaking on condition of anonymity.
Sack him, was the response from another senior football official who also spoke to TMSG on condition of anonymity.
For now, Tanjong Pagar United is keen to get the issue over and done with, and get ready for the new season.
MAIN PHOTO: TAKEN OFF INSTAGRAM STORY VIDEO