The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) finds itself in a pickle as Deloitte has walked away from being the main sponsor of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) after three years.
This partnership with Deloitte, which was worth over S$300,000, was instrumental in revitalising the league after its 2022 relaunch, following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Deloitte’s sponsorship was the first in WPL history and significantly elevated the league.
As the WPL returns for its 24th season on 1 March 2025, the prize pool remains unchanged: S$25,000 for the champions, S$10,000 for the first runners-up, and S$7,500 for the second runners-up.
“Deloitte’s sponsorship has helped the league’s development, and we are grateful for their efforts to raise the profile of women’s football in Singapore,” said FAS General Secretary Chew Chun-Liang.
Chew shared that the association is actively engaging with potential sponsors.
“We are excited about the future and look forward to building on the momentum created by Deloitte’s sponsorship. New partnerships will help us continue to provide opportunities for women in football, and the future of the WPL is bright as we move forward,” he added.
“It has been a pleasure to journey with WPL,” said James Walton, Deloitte’s Sports Business Group Leader for Asia Pacific and Southeast Asia.
“The goal of our sponsorship was to support the development of women’s football in Singapore and we are pleased to see improvements in the women’s game, including a centralised competition venue that lends itself to elite competition, and the increase in young players coming through the ranks of clubs through to the Singapore national team.
“Deloitte regularly reviews our sponsorships so that we can give support to a broad base of groups in our society. Even as we sunset our time with WPL, we remain supporters and fans of women’s football, and committed to partnerships that help advance sports in Singapore,” he added.
However, why is there no new title sponsor secured ahead of the 2025 season?
Deloitte’s departure also highlights an ongoing disparity.
In 2022, chairman of Deloitte Singapore Philip Yuen noted that the company’s sponsorship reflected its commitment to promoting women’s leadership and sports development.
Yet the gap between men’s and women’s football remains stark.
According to FAS’ annual report for the year ended March 2020, women’s football expenditure was S$542,533 compared to S$12.6 million for the men’s SPL.
This season features nine teams competing over 18 match weeks.
The 2025 season opens with Balestier Khalsa facing Tanjong Pagar on 1 March, followed by Still Aerion against BG Tampines Rovers on 2 March.
Matches will kick off at 7:45 pm during Ramadhan before returning to two weekend matches at 5:00 pm and 7:30 pm from April with free admission.