At Yishun Stadium on Sunday, October 21, a Gymkhana FC player assaulted a referee after the latter showed him a red card 80 minutes into the game. The referee was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, and the footballer has since been fired from Gymkhana and banned from ever playing with club again.
During a National Football League (NFL) Division One game on Sunday, 37-year-old Lim Si Seng was punched in the face and injured in the neck after he showed player Jufri Hassan a red card.
The police, who were informed of the incident at 6:42PM on Sunday, are calling it a case of voluntarily causing hurt. Further investigations are ongoing.
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) reported that the assault incident happened during a match between Gymkhana FC and Katong FC.
The match was allowed to continue after fourth official Taufk Thana was sent on the field to replace Lim as referee, while Lim sat on the sidelines for the remainder of the match.
Apparently, Hassan left the stadium before the police arrived. President of Gymkhana Patrick Francis then gave the authorities Hassan’s contact details to aid investigations.
A spectator at the match told another media source that Hassan “manhandled” the Lim, who “could not continue to officiate the game” for the injuries he sustained.
The game ended in dramatic fashion with Katong running out 3-0 winners, police being called to the scene, and Lim being taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
According to Francis, Hassan has since been sacked from Gymkhana and given a lifetime ban from ever playing with the club.
“He was a former professional player, and he should know what kind of behaviour is expected. These things cannot happen in Singapore football, and we will accept whatever punishment the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) metes out,” added Francis.
The FAS has begun disciplinary processes in response to Sunday’s assault incident and offered support to Lim, promising to take “strong action against the perpetrators”.
“The FAS takes a very serious view on any behaviour that taints the sport and brings it into disrepute,” said FAS general secretary Yazeen Buhari.
The FAS will continue with investigations into the incident.