Likely Sea Of Change As Li Eyes FAS' Top Job

Sailors chairman confirms bid, will name team soon; no comment by incumbent Tan

- Deepanraj Ganesan

Tech billionaire Forrest Li has officially thrown his hat into the ring in the contest for Singapore football's top post.

A spokesman for Li told The Straits Times on March 17 that the chairman of Singapore Premier League club the Lion City Sailors will be running for president at the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) elections on April 28.

"Forrest Li has confirmed that he will be running for the FAS presidency, and he looks forward to sharing more about his team in the coming fortnight," said the spokesman.

The confirmation follows FAS' press statement on March 17, when it announced the date of its extraordinary congress. The elections of its council members for the four-year term from 2025 to 2029 will be carried out in two ways: A slate basis and on an individual basis.

In the first, a team comprising nine candidates for the posts of the president, deputy president, four vice-presidents and three council members are proposed and elected en bloc.

For the individual basis, the remaining six council members will be proposed and elected individually. The FAS council shall feature at least one female member.

The deadline for nomination of candidates to the FAS general secretariat is March 31, while an announcement of qualified candidates for the elections will be held on April 18, 10 days before the extraordinary congress.