SINGAPORE (AFP) - Two Singapore football clubs apologised Friday and promised stiff punishments over a mass brawl that halted a game and brought new shame to the troubled S-League.Defending champions Etoile FC and Hougang United said they were reviewing video footage of Monday's incident, when up to 50 players and officials were involved in a melee before kick-off. "Whoever is
found to be involved in such incidents, there will be very, very strong repercussions and very strong sanctions," Etoile chairman Johan Gouttefangeas told a joint press conference.
"If I had been caught in this thing, I would have to be sacked myself."
Hougang chairman Bill Ng strongly hinted there was a racial element to the fracas between his Singapore-origin club and Etoile, whose players are of French descent.
The incident follows fighting last September between Singapore's Young Lions and Beijing Guoan, from China, which resulted in long bans and fines. Beijing Guoan were not invited back to the S-League this year.
Media reports said Monday's trouble flared when an Etoile player approached the Hougang squad during the warm-up. But both chairmen denied any link to a bust-up that marred the end of their previous encounter in March.
The tiny city-state bolsters its 12-club professional league by allowing foreign teams such as Etoile. But the policy has been blamed for inflaming racial tensions and adding other unsavoury elements.
In 2008, China's Liaoning Guangyuan were thrown out following a match-fixing scandal, while two years earlier Sporting Afrique were barred over financial irregularities.
The Football Association of Singapore has suspended both teams and ordered them to a disciplinary hearing on June 3.
found to be involved in such incidents, there will be very, very strong repercussions and very strong sanctions," Etoile chairman Johan Gouttefangeas told a joint press conference.
"If I had been caught in this thing, I would have to be sacked myself."
Hougang chairman Bill Ng strongly hinted there was a racial element to the fracas between his Singapore-origin club and Etoile, whose players are of French descent.
The incident follows fighting last September between Singapore's Young Lions and Beijing Guoan, from China, which resulted in long bans and fines. Beijing Guoan were not invited back to the S-League this year.
Media reports said Monday's trouble flared when an Etoile player approached the Hougang squad during the warm-up. But both chairmen denied any link to a bust-up that marred the end of their previous encounter in March.
The tiny city-state bolsters its 12-club professional league by allowing foreign teams such as Etoile. But the policy has been blamed for inflaming racial tensions and adding other unsavoury elements.
In 2008, China's Liaoning Guangyuan were thrown out following a match-fixing scandal, while two years earlier Sporting Afrique were barred over financial irregularities.
The Football Association of Singapore has suspended both teams and ordered them to a disciplinary hearing on June 3.
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