Will there be actual changes in Singapore’s football scene if a billionaire became the Football Association of Singapore’s (FAS) presidency?
For sure, as anyone would do a much better job than the current President Bernard Tan.
Talk of a new leadership brewing has been circulating for some time among the football fraternity.
BG Tampines chairman Desmond Ong and current vice-president Teo Hock Seng have also been touted as possible replacements.
But as The Straits Times reported, Forrest Li, founder of homegrown tech firm Sea Limited, was ‘seriously considering’ running for president of the football body.
Li, 47, doesn’t need to win the lottery to fund his campaign.
With a net worth of US$8.4 billion (S$11.3 billion), he’s comfortably in the ‘I’ll buy the whole football league’ range and possibly even put money into the association.
But it is not all about the money.
Li’s got football credentials, too – he’s the chairman of the Singapore Premier League’s Lion City Sailors, and they’ve been having a great run lately, so he must be doing something right.
They’ve won the 2021 Singapore Premier League (SPL) title, bagged the 2023 Singapore Cup, and made waves in the Asian Champions League with shock victories over clubs like Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Daegu Football Club.
And let’s not forget that $10 million training centre the Sailors opened in 2022.
No big deal, just a little investment in football’s future.
If he does decide to run, he’ll need to rally up a team for deputy presidents, vice-presidents, and council members.
The election for office bearers is set for April.
“The election timeline, preparation period for candidates and eligibility criteria will follow the guidelines outlined in the Constitution.
“Any further details will be announced in due course.” reported a spokesperson for the national sports association to The Straits Times.
Li’s entry could be the breath of fresh air Singapore football has been begging for.
MAIN PHOTO: BLOOMBERG