FAS suspends Hougang and Etoile indefinitely

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Etoile's story

Reserve goalkeeper Hadama Bathily (above) ventures into the Hougang side of the pitch to retrieve a loose ball

Hougang's assistant coach Hasrin Jailani starts hurling abuse at Bathily, shouting 'F**king French' repeatedly

Bathily squares up to Hasrin, but is kicked by Hasrin and then attacked by Hougang captain Shariff Samat, who also kicks him
 

Hougang's story

Both Etoile goalkeepers are practising their goal kicks and several balls land in Hougang's warm-up area

After three or four such incidents, Hougang's assistant coach Hasrin Jailani approaches reserve goalkeeper Hadama Bathily, who was retrieving the ball, to tell him to confine his team's warm-up to their own half of the pitch

Bathily head-butts Hasrin and subsequently throws a punch at him, sparking a full-scale scuffle between both sets of players 

Hougang Stadium was the scene of the fight that broke out when an Etoile player went over to the Hougang United warm-up area to retrieve a ball. -- PHOTOS: THE NEW PAPER AND DESMOND WEE



HOUGANG United and Etoile FC, the two S-League sides involved in Monday night's pre-match brawl, have been suspended indefinitely by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).


The game at the Hougang Stadium was marred by a scuffle between both sets of players during the warm-up session, prompting match officials to abandon proceedings - the first time in the league's 16-year history that a match was scrapped before kick-off for disciplinary problems.

It is believed the FAS has obtained a video recording of the incident.

In a statement issued yesterday, the FAS said that a disciplinary hearing has been scheduled for June 3, while the three matches involving both teams during this period have been suspended.

Said FAS president Zainudin Nordin: 'We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to violent conduct both on and off the pitch.

'FAS has started investigations and will pursue the matter thoroughly. Any players and officials found guilty of misconduct will be severely dealt with.'