Relief for Warriors FC coach Weaver, possible trouble for Hougang 'keeper Fadhil

He was allegedly approached illegally by Warriors FC coach Alex Weaver, and after an official complaint by his club, Hougang goalkeeper Fadhil Salim was asked to turn up as a witness at a Disciplinary Committee (DC) hearing by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).

But the 31-year-old custodian (below) failed to turn up for two hearings - one on Feb 26 and another last night - resulting in the DC dismissing three of the four charges, and handing Weaver (main photo) a suspended three-month ban. 

A suspended sentence means Weaver will only serve the ban should he be hauled up before the DC for any future infringement. 

Fadhil was not investigated or charged by the five-man DC. 

The three charges against Weaver that were dismissed were linked to the Englishman contacting Fadhil. The DC punished Weaver for telling the media last December that he was on the lookout for a goalkeeper, with Fadhil a possible target. 

Warriors' general manager Chong Wei Chiang told The New Paper after the hearing that with three charges dismissed, the defending  Great Eastern-Yeo's S.League champions are considering possible legal recourse. 

"We will be consulting with our legal advisers on our next course of action... to uphold the name of the club," he said. 

Hougang will now turn their attention on Fadhil. The Cheetahs have already suspended the goalkeeper for his part in the matter. 

"We held an internal inquiry yesterday and (Fadhil) didn't show up, and he also chose to ignore our notice to him to attend the DC hearing," said Cheetahs general manager, Nicholas Low. 

"At the moment he is suspended from training but still getting paid; now we will look at what sanctions to place on a player who's clearly not compliant. 

"We have to consult our board." 

While the Warriors will breathe a huge sigh of relief that their head coach is free to go about the business of steering the team through the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League season, they have lost the battle for the man earmarked to be the head coach of their Prime League side - Nazareno Velez. 

The Argentinian's coaching certificates - obtained in his home country - were not deemed by the FAS to be equivalent to the Asian Football Confederation 'A' certificate - a requirement for a Prime League head coach.  

With FAS ratification a pre-requisite to him earning a contract at Warriors, Velez has parted ways with the club. 

"(Velez) has acknowledged the fact that he has problems with his paperwork in this part of the world, and while the club have tried to work things out, at this time it is best that he leaves the club," said Chong. 

"Internally, we have enough (coaching) resources, and this is not a pressing concern for us. We will move (coaches) around and the Prime League team will continue to support the S.League squad."