Hougang United sanctioned by FAS for fielding foreign footballer without valid work pass, match results overturned

Hougang United Football Club (HGFC), a club in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), has been fined by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) for fielding a foreign footballer in games despite his lack of a valid work pass.

HGFC's Gloire Amanda, 27, played in SPL and SPL2 matches before his work pass's required regulatory clearance procedures were completed.

According to a Mar. 3 joint press release by SPL and FAS, a review was conducted that found that Hougang United's staff and management should have detected the mistake.

In an official club statement on Facebook, HGFC acknowledged the findings and explained that "there was no intent to circumvent regulations".

Formal approval for Amanda's work pass "was still pending at the time of participation", the club said.

"The matter arose from an administrative timing issue relating to documentation clearance.

Hougang United FC sincerely apologises to the Football Association of Singapore, the affected clubs, as well as our supporters, partners, and stakeholders for this administrative oversight."

Work pass not confirmed yet

All foreigners who choose to work in Singapore need to obtain a valid work pass from the Ministry of Manpower before starting employment.

According to the press release, HGFC placed Amanda in the three matches before he had obtained a valid work pass.

This constitutes a breach of competition regulations.

"Although HGFC had submitted a work pass application, the work pass had neither received formal approval nor been physically issued at the time the player participated in those matches," the release said.

These matches and their original scores are as follows:

• SPL2's Match 51 on Jan. 21 against BG Tampines Rovers (BGTR), scored 1-0 in favour of HGFC
• SPL's Match 34 on Jan. 24 against Lion City Sailors (LCS), scored 5-1 in favour of LCS
• SPL's Match 31 on Jan. 30 against Young Lions FC, scored 2-0 in favour of HGFC

SPL2 is the feeder league for the main SPL competition.

In accordance with SPL regulations, the results of the affected matches will be overturned, with three points awarded to the respective non-infringing teams.

This meant that the opposing teams, BGTR and Young Lions, ended up with 3-0 match scores in favour of them.

The SPL match results against LCS remain unchanged.

HGFC fined

HGFC was also fined for fielding an ineligible player, FAS said.

Enhanced verification and compliance protocols governing foreign players will be implemented wihin FAS with immediate effect.

It added: "Appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken in respect of the FAS staff and management involved in the registration process."

In its press release, FAS said it acknowledged the seriousness of the matter and "remains firmly committed to transparency" to safeguard the professionalism of its competitors.

HGFC said it has since strengthened its internal compliance procedures "to ensure that all documentation and clearances are fully confirmed prior to participation in official fixtures".

Born in a refugee camp

Amanda, who plays the forward position, is reportedly a Canadian citizen whose hometown is Edmonton in Alberta.

According to The Globe and Mail, he was reportedly born in the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania after his parents fled the Democratic Republic of Congo during the 1996 civil war and moved to Canada when he was 10.

Amanda spent time in Vancouver's Whitecaps residency before playing for Oregon State University and Austria's SK Austria Klagenfurt.

Most recently, he played for Australia's Sydney Olympic FC before being signed to HGFC in January.

Top photo from Gloire Amanda/Instagram