Forrest Li, Tech billionaire and chairman of Lion City Sailors has officially declared his candidacy for the presidency of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), marking a significant moment in the leadership battle for Singapore football.
A spokesperson for Li confirmed the development to The Straits Times on March 17, stating, “Forrest Li has confirmed that he will be running for the FAS presidency, and he looks forward to sharing more about his team in the coming fortnight.”
This announcement coincides with the FAS’ official statement setting April 28 as the date for its extraordinary congress and elections. The selection process for FAS council members for the 2025-2029 term will follow two methods: a slate-based election for key leadership roles, and an individual selection for six council positions, with a minimum requirement of one female member.
With the nomination deadline set for March 31 and the official announcement of candidates slated for April 18, speculation is mounting over the potential challengers for the presidency. Incumbent FAS President Bernard Tan, who assumed the role in September 2023 following the passing of Lim Kia Tong, has yet to confirm whether he will seek re-election. When contacted, Tan declined to comment on the matter.
Former Woodlands Wellington general manager R. Vengadasalam has also hinted at a possible candidacy but remains undecided about forming a team.
Forrest Li, 47, a naturalised Singapore citizen, is the chairman of Singapore Premier League (SPL) club Lion City Sailors and founder of tech giant Sea Limited. With a reported net worth of US$8.4 billion (S$11.3 billion), he ranked 12th on Forbes’ Singapore 50 richest list in 2024. Sea Limited, which owns e-commerce platform Shopee and operates gaming and digital finance businesses, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
His involvement in Singapore football dates back to 2016, when Garena (Sea Limited’s digital entertainment arm) sponsored SPL club Young Lions in a $4 million deal. He later joined the Home United management committee in 2019 before privatising the club as Lion City Sailors in 2020. Li also served as an FAS council member from 2017 to 2021.
Under his leadership, Lion City Sailors have redefined Singapore football with major investments, including a $10 million training centre in Mattar Road and the landmark €1.8 million signing of Brazilian midfielder Diego Lopes from Portuguese club Rio Ave in 2021—the first multimillion-dollar transfer in local football history. The club has also achieved notable regional success, including victories over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Daegu FC in the Asian Champions League. They are currently in the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League Two, set to face Sydney FC in April.
Former Singapore national coach V. Sundramoorthy believes Li’s proven track record at Sailors could be a game-changer for Singapore football, stating, “What he has achieved at Sailors is amazing… So why not put himself up and try to do the same for Singapore football?”
Former Singapore defender R. Sasikumar, now a sports business strategist, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of strategic leadership: “It’s always refreshing when a well-known businessman steps forward. If he brings the right people and resources into football, we could finally move in the right direction.”
With Li officially in the race, all eyes are now on his proposed team and manifesto, which he is expected to unveil in the coming weeks.
Credit Photo : LCS
