Li to Lead FAS After Rivals Disqualified

Darwin's opposing slate barred from running as one candidate is not eligible

- Deepanraj Ganesan

Tech billionaire and Lion City Sailors chairman Forrest Li is set to be the new Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president after former Balestier Khalsa vice-chairman Darwin Jalil and his team were deemed ineligible to participate in the upcoming elections.

In a letter from the FAS electoral appeal committee, seen by The Straits Times on April 17, Darwin's team, who are called "Football First" and comprise nine names for the posts of president, deputy president, four vice-presidents and three council members, were disqualified due to the ineligibility of one candidate.

ST understands that two of their nine initial candidates failed the integrity checks, and they had till April 10 to submit the forms for replacements. However, one of their replacements - Neo Gim Chye - was subsequently rejected by the electoral committee.

An appeal was made, but it was unsuccessful. According to the rules, the ineligibility of one candidate means that the entire slate will not be able to contest the elections.