The Singapore national football team has been hit by allegations of indiscipline, ahead of a series of international matches.
The Straits Times understands that national team manager Farehan Hussein is being investigated by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) for his involvement in alleged breaches of discipline, among other transgressions.
These instances of misconduct occurred while the Lions were on international duty.
The inquiry is believed to have been prompted by a formal complaint that reached local sport governing body Sport Singapore. Upon seeing the letter, SportSG subsequently asked the FAS to look into the issue.
The FAS has convened a three-member panel to investigate the claims. The panel is headed by lawyer Chandra Mohan K Nair, a partner at law firm Tan Rajah & Cheah.
Yesterday, ST asked the FAS about the ongoing investigation, Farehan's status and if the FAS will take action against any official or player should the allegations be true. An FAS spokesman did not address any of these questions and only said: "We are currently looking into the matter."
Farehan could not be reached for comment.
It is believed some FAS staff have already been called up to give their statements to the panel.
In 2011, then FAS president Zainudin Nordin disbanded the national team after the previous year was plagued by poor results and disciplinary woes which included players breaking curfew.
The Lions are currently gathered for centralised training under head coach V. Sundramoorthy.
They will play a closed-door match against Myanmar next Tuesday, followed by the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup qualifier against Chinese Taipei four days later.
Both games will be played at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
Singapore are second in Group E after their goal-less draw away at Bahrain in their opening game in March.
The Lions will then face two-time World Cup winners Argentina in a blockbuster friendly at the National Stadium on June 13.
According to his LinkedIn page, Farehan joined the FAS in August 2013 as a team administrator. He was listed as being a teacher before joining the FAS.
He became team manager of the now-defunct LionsXII for the 2015 season, before taking up a similar position with the Garena Young Lions after the LionsXII left the Malaysia Super League.
