The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has clarified that Keisuke Honda’s conduct during a recent Singapore Premier League (SPL) match complied with existing regulations. The FAS responded to questions surrounding the role and authority of coaching and support staff in the league’s technical area, citing the SPL 2026/27 Regulations and international football standards.

According to the FAS, the SPL mandates that a head coach must possess at least the AFC Professional Coaching Diploma or an equivalent qualification. This ensures that the primary responsibility for a team’s technical management lies with a qualified individual, who remains accountable regardless of who delivers instructions from the technical area during a match. The regulations also provide guidance on the eligibility and registration of other team officials.

Match officials are tasked with overseeing the technical area throughout games to guarantee that only one registered team official communicates tactical instructions at any given time. This policy aligns with Law 1, Section 9 (The Technical Area) of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Laws of the Game, which restricts the number of individuals authorized to provide tactical guidance during a match and permits only one person at a time to do so. The framework also allows for others in the technical area to assist as translators, supporting communication without breaching the rules.

Regarding Honda’s involvement, the FAS noted that FC Jurong registered him for the season as both a player and a team official. For the specific match against Young Lions, Honda was designated solely as a team official and operated within the technical area in that capacity. This arrangement was in full compliance with SPL regulations, which prohibit a player from occupying the technical area or providing tactical instructions during a match. Had Honda been listed as a player for that fixture, his presence and conduct in the technical zone would have contravened the rules.

The FAS also emphasized its continuing efforts to work with clubs on the practical implementation of team official roles to maintain clear and consistent governance of technical area conduct.