By Aimi G.
It was supposed to be just another weekend youth football match.
Instead, it ended with an 8-0 thrashing, a chair allegedly flying through the air, and one parent taken to hospital, and an arrest by the police.
On May 11, chaos erupted at the Sengkang Secondary School after an Under-14 Singapore Youth League (SYL) game between Geylang International and Albirex Singapore Football Academy.
Geylang routed Albirex 8-0, but the real drama played out after the final whistle.
At around 7.15pm, police were called to 10 Compassvale Lane.
A 51-year-old man, later identified as Daniel Tay, the father of an Albirex player, was found injured, bleeding from his face.
He was reportedly hit in the face with a metal foldable chair and taken, conscious, to Sengkang General Hospital.
A 46-year-old man was subsequently arrested for “rash act causing hurt”, according to the Straits Times.
TMSG had been alerted to the altercation moments it happened, which is why we had put out a request for footage.
We had witnesses sending in their accounts of what happened.
Speaking to The Straits Times, the victim Tay said he got involved after a fellow Albirex parent approached the Geylang coach to complain that she had been insulted by some Geylang players.
He left the school compound with the match commissioner, but claims that’s when someone from the Geylang camp came at him, armed with a metal chair.
SYL issued a statement condemning violence, warning that disciplinary action would be taken and the league “will not hesitate to report violent acts to the authorities.”
Albirex also condemned the aggression and said they are supporting Tay.
Geylang stated they take the matter seriously and are cooperating with investigations.
The SYL, launched in 2024 under the Unleash The Roar! project, was meant to nurture Singapore’s next generation of football stars.
Instead, it’s now dealing with headlines more suited for a wrestling ring.
If convicted, the alleged assailant faces up to a year in jail, a $5,000 fine or both.
Maybe consider leaving the folding chairs at home next weekend.
PHOTO: STRAITS TIMES