Soccer: FAS president Lim Kia Tong dies aged 70

SINGAPORE – Soccer Affiliation of Singapore (FAS) president Lim Kia Tong died on Wednesday (Sept 14). He was 70.

Lim is believed to have suffered a coronary heart assault. He was discovered collapsed in his workplace when he didn’t flip up for a listening to.

He’s survived by his spouse, and two kids – a 31-year-old daughter and 30-year-old son – who learn legislation like him.

Lim, a lawyer with greater than 40 years of apply and who headed the prison division at Hin Tat Augustine and Companions, turned the FAS’ first elected president when his Staff LKT beat Invoice Ng’s Staff Recreation Changers in 2017.

He was re-elected unopposed four years later.

In a Fb publish, the FAS described its late chief as “a devoted servant of the game he beloved” and stated it will arrange an area within the foyer of its workplace on the Jalan Besar Stadium for individuals who wish to pay their respects from Thursday.

After Lim turned FAS president, he took it upon himself to supervise the operations of the Nationwide Soccer League (now generally known as Singapore Soccer League), and helped convey on board a sponsor in Ajinomoto (S), organise insurance coverage protection, and enhance scheduling and securing correct match venues for the beginner competitors in 2017.

In world soccer, he was a extremely revered determine for his function as deputy chairman of the Fifa disciplinary committee (DC), and as chairman of the Asian Soccer Confederation DC.

His rise in soccer started in 1999, when he was appointed an FAS council member and, by 2007, he was the vice-president of the FAS.

By his admission, Lim remained a comparatively low-profile determine till the 2014 World Cup. Then he was a part of the disciplinary committee that dished out a four-month ban and a tremendous of 100,000 Swiss francs (S$146,000) to Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini throughout that event.

Former Fifa referee Thiru Rajamanickam was handed a lifetime ban from all soccer actions and was deregistered from the FAS referees’ checklist in 1994 after he was sentenced to eight months’ jail and fined $1,000 for accepting $1,000 as a bribe from a bookmaker.

The ban was lifted by the FAS below Lim in March. The 71-year-old stated: “My household and I are grateful for his efforts to get my ban overturned after 28 years. It takes a person of braveness to do this and I perceive he additionally put in a variety of effort to analysis my case. I’ll proceed to attempt to contribute to native soccer to repay what Kia Tong has executed for me.”

Minister for Tradition, Neighborhood and Youth Edwin Tong, who’s in Indonesia for the G20 Tradition Ministers assembly, was amongst those that expressed shock on the information. 

In a Fb publish, Mr Tong, who had been one among Lim’s vice-presidents on the FAS earlier than stepping down in 2020, wrote: “The second I landed in Jakarta from Yogyakarta, my cellphone was buzzing non cease with incoming messages.

“A number of messages got here in, informing me of Kia Tong’s sudden, premature passing simply moments prior. My coronary heart sank, and, for some time, I might scarcely imagine the messages I used to be seeing. I had simply been in contact with him, over the weekend.”

Mr Tong, who was additionally a lawyer earlier than being appointed a minister, hailed Lim’s contributions to the authorized fraternity, calling him “a tenacious litigator” who “all the time fought his circumstances with an unusual compassion and with much more coronary heart than many would know”. He added: “He was devoted to doing his finest for his consumer, regardless of the information of the case and regardless of the circumstances.”

He hailed Lim’s folksy strategy to administration, noting that his “amiable disposition” helped to “step by step healed divides and introduced folks collectively”.  

He added: “Kia Tong’s job in soccer was a troublesome one, however he dealt with it with grace and poise. Beneath his informal, pleasant manner was a steely dedication to soccer, battle-hardened via his years of expertise.  

“The soccer fraternity in addition to these on the Bar will miss him significantly.  I too will miss a pal and confidant dearly. My deepest condolences to Kia Tong’s household, and should he relaxation in peace.”

The Singapore Premier League (SPL) introduced on Wednesday that the draw for the 2022 Singapore Cup – which was scheduled for 3pm on that day – can be postponed till additional discover. 

In a Fb publish, league champions Lion Metropolis Sailors stated they “are shocked and saddened” by Lim’s dying, including that “our deepest sympathy goes out to the household of the late Mr Lim”. 

Tampines Rovers added on social media: “We prolong our honest condolences to his household, and together with the Singapore footballing fraternity, thank him for his service to native soccer.”

Geylang Worldwide stated that they “stand with the Soccer Affiliation of Singapore and wider Singapore soccer household in mourning the lack of Mr Lim”.