Singapore football didn't have the best SEA Games outing this time round.

The team couldn't produce goals until the final group match of the tournament, where they absolutely killed it.

Unfortunately, that resounding win was soured by news that six players had broken curfew during the tournament and would be disciplined by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).

According to The Straits Times, the six broke curfew after a 3-0 loss to Thailand, their third match of the tournament.

They would go on to lose 1-0 to Vietnam, and trounce Brunei 7-0.

In FAS' statement, Head Coach Fandi Ahmad expressed his disappointment in the six of them.

“I am utterly disappointed with the players and I have let them know as much. They are here not only as representatives of the Football Association of Singapore but also Team Singapore and should have known the value of the flag they are bearing. This was another unnecessary set-back for the team during what turned out as a difficult campaign for us.”

However, perhaps it was FAS president Lim Kia Tong's strong choice of words that some people took issue with.

Here is what he said:

“The curfews in place, besides ensuring the players’ safety and security, are to instil discipline and to ensure that the players are well rested and ready to carry out their mission for the country in football.

Breaking curfew hours is deplorable and totally against the very values which every footballer is expected to uphold as the ambassador of Singapore at competitions.

Their acts were calculated and done with the blatant disregard of the Code of Conduct. At that stage of the Competition when they should have been fully focused on bringing pride back to the game for Singapore, their behaviour affected and dented the capability and morale of the team and they have let down the entire Nation.

Without any question, they will face the FAS Disciplinary Committee which will be convened without delay after their return.”

Specifically this part:

"their behaviour affected and dented the capability and morale of the team and they have let down the entire Nation".

Ironically, the team secured two more points and scored seven more goals in the two matches after the broken curfew, than the three preceding it.

Let the country down?

While no one appears to have taken issue with disciplinary measures handed out to the players...

... some felt the choice of words was quite harsh.

Here are some of the comments on a Today article.

With some questioning whether the act of breaking curfew was the main reason for the poor showing in the tournament.

And whether a better showing would have resulted in this level of chiding from the footballing body.

Others took issue with naming the six players and then plastering their faces on the internet.

SMRT Feedback by The Vigilanteh came up with an alternate headline to describe the incident:

And Jade Rasif pointed out that even Schooling had broken curfew without this level of criticism levelled against him.

Bit of a difference

Many pointed to a prior case of Singapore swimmers, Joseph Schooling, Roanne Ho, and Teo Zhen Ren, having left the Athletes Village in Incheon without permission during the 2014 Asian Games.

While there was some speculation that the three were drunk when they came back, it was later clarified that they had only gone out at 3am to grab some supper.

The difference though between the two incidents appears to be timing.

While the three swimmers went on an unauthorised outing after the swimming events were over, the six football players broke curfew while there were two more games left to be played.

Still, it is telling that the language used is so starkly different between the two incidents.

Here is a statement by the 2014 Asian Games chef de mission, Jessie Phua, via The New Paper.

"It has been brought to our attention that three athletes returned to the athletes' village in the early hours on 27 September," said Singapore chef de mission Jessie Phua in a statement yesterday. "We will investigate further after the Games."

Factual.

And even then, there were calls to take it easy.

Public opinion was rightfully on the side of the young swimmers, one of whom had just delivered the first Asian Games gold for Singapore men's swimming in 32 years.

And in the end, after promising to investigate the matter, they were handed a warning after the Asian Games.

No one let down a nation then, and no one has let down a nation now.

Image from FAS Facebook