SINGAPORE: Singa­pore’s new football chief on Saturday pledged “sweeping changes” after he was picked in a FIFA-ordered election amid allegations of financial mismanagement within the sport.

Newly elected Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Lim Kia Tong, who was voted in with 30 of the 44 votes available, promised to raise the standard of football in the city-state, which now stands at 159th place in the world.

“This is the mandate that will bring sweeping changes to Singapore football,” he said in a post-election press conference.

“The last few weeks have been incredibly hard but the road ahead will be even harder,” he said, referring to the financial mismanagement scandal that last week saw police raiding the offices of the football governing body and several local clubs.

Accusations of financial mismanagement have been levelled at Bill Ng, who chairs the Tiong Bahru Football Club, after news emerged of the club donating Sg$500,000 ($350,000) to the ASEAN Football Federation between 2014 and 2015 through the FAS.

News of the donation drew criticism from fans and commentators who questioned why funds were going to a foreign entity instead of supporting the beleaguered local league.

According to local media reports, Ng and his wife have been brought in for questioning by detectives but police have refused to officially confirm this, citing ongoing investigations.

Others being probed include ex-FAS president Zainudin Nordin, a former MP.

Ng, who stood against Lim in the election, garnered 13 votes.

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) was forced to call elections after world football governing body FIFA ordered an end to political interference in appointing FAS leadership.

FAS chiefs were traditionally elected members of parliament under the ruling People’s Action Party, while council members were appointed by the Singapore sports minister.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2017