Forum: New plans by FAS welcome, but more thought needed to improve league
It’s encouraging to see the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) introducing changes to the Singapore Premier League (SPL) (
FAS introduces enhancements to SPL, with increase in prize money and foreign player quota
, July 2). But despite good intentions, some decisions raise concerns.
Modifications to the competition format have been made too often. Since 2019, the format has changed almost every season. A stable structure is crucial for building fan engagement and attracting quality foreign players.
The increased foreign player quota also risks sidelining local talent. Unlike Malaysia and Indonesia, whose leagues host more teams, the SPL’s smaller pool means fewer opportunities for home-grown players. Clubs will naturally field their strongest line-ups – often packed with imports – reducing locals’ game time.
While the new SPL2 reserve league ensures Singaporean players continue to get sufficient playing time, it lacks the intensity of top-tier competition. And replacing the U-21 league could hurt youth development further.
If there are resources for a reserve league, why not go further and introduce a true second-tier league with promotion and relegation? That would offer real stakes, more competitive matches and meaningful development opportunities.
One may argue that playing for clubs overseas, as a handful of senior national team players have been doing, should be the way going forward. While that may be true, not every player has the ability and capacity to thrive overseas for long.
There have been occasions where such players ended up returning home to the SPL due to various reasons.
While some aspects of the new plans by FAS can be improved, I’m still looking forward to a more competitive 2025-2026 SPL season as a football fan.
Henry Choong Kun Lin
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