Balestier Khalsa footballer under police investigation after alleged nightclub incident
SINGAPORE – A foreign player from Balestier Khalsa is assisting the police with investigations after an incident at a nightclub, the Singapore Premier League side confirmed on May 28.
The Straits Times understands that the footballer was accused of molestation during a night out with his teammates at Zouk in mid-May. He was taken to the police station and later released on bail.
He would go on to play in the club's final SPL game of the season, a 3-2 win over Albirex Niigata at the Bishan Stadium on May 25.
A spokesman from Balestier Khalsa confirmed that one of their players is under police investigation but declined further comment.
The Tigers finished fourth out of nine teams in the recently concluded season, and achieved back-to-back fourth-place finishes for the first time since the late 1990s.
However, they are headed for a transition with the departures of vice-chairman Darwin Jalil and coach Peter de Roo.
ST understands that former Balestier player and coach Marko Kraljevic – who is Hougang United's head of youth development – is set to take over as their head coach.
The 59-year-old German-Croat played for the club when they finished third in 1996 and fourth in 1997 and 1998, and had two spells as their head coach from 2014 to 2019 and from 2019 to 2021.
He helped the Tigers win the Singapore Cup in 2014, when he was named the S.League Coach of the Year.
David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis.
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Geylang's Tomoyuki Doi up for top honours at SPL Awards Night after record-breaking season
Geylang International striker Tomoyuki Doi (second from right) scored a record-breaking 44 goals in 32 games this season. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE SINGAPORE – Geylang International striker Tomoyuki Doi will have the chance to round off a sensational season at the Singapore Premier League (SPL) Awards Night, after being named among the nominees for several honours on May 27. The Japanese star will receive the SPL Golden Boot and a special recognition award after scoring a league-record 44 goals in 31 appearances, surpassing former Singapore Armed Forces FC forward Mirko Grabovac's previous mark of 38 goals in a 33-game campaign in 2001. His attacking exploits have also earned him a spot on the shortlist for the AIA SPL Player of the Year, alongside Lion City Sailors' defender Bailey Wright and forward Shawal Anuar, who played key roles in their club's title victory. Doi, 27, said: 'I'm honoured to be nominated for the two awards. I really am grateful for everyone's support, especially those who supported me in the last 1½ years when I joined Geylang. The key to being where I am is that I have always believed in myself and kept the focus on getting better. It's as simple as that, nothing special.' Due to be held at the Orchard Hotel on June 1, the event will see the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) celebrate standout performances from the SPL and the SPL Under-21 League, with accolades to be presented across 13 categories. The Eagles had more reason to celebrate, with coach Noor Ali nominated for the Polar Mineral Water Coach of the Year award after leading Geylang to a third-placed finish – their best since 2003, when they were runners-up. Also up for the award are the Sailors' title-winning coach Aleksandar Rankovic, a first-time nominee, and BG Tampines Rovers' Gavin Lee. With the Sailors in the running for several top awards, their sporting director Badri Ghent hailed this as a team effort by everyone in the club. In addition to claiming their second SPL title, the Sailors also impressed on the continental stage with a historic run to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two final, where they lost 2-1 to the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah FC. Ghent said: 'It's a proud moment for everyone at Lion City Sailors and we're humbled to be up for such awards. 'They reflect not just the performances on the pitch, but the countless hours of hard work behind the scenes – from the players and coaches to the support staff and entire backroom team.' He hopes the club can continue their progress after an exceptional season, adding: 'To bag these honours will be a befitting end to what has been a long and memorable season. We'd also like to thank FAS for recognising our efforts in the AFC Champions League Two. 'As a club, we continually challenge ourselves to be even better each season. We will continue to build on the momentum that has been laid this season and, hopefully, represent Singapore football with pride and dignity on the continental stage in the coming years.' The AIA Young Player of the Year category features familiar talent and fresh faces. Seia Kunori is back in the running, this time as a Tampines player, having clinched the award in 2023 while playing for then-champions Albirex Niigata. The attacker is joined by Hougang United winger Farhan Zulkifli and first-time nominee Shingo Nakano, who plies his trade as a forward for Albirex. Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Russian attacks kill five in Zaporizhzhia, injure several in Kharkiv, regional officials say
Emergency workers remove debris from a private house that was damaged in a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, June 1, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Peter Emergency service members work at the site where Russian drones damaged several private houses, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, June 1, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Peter Local resident Lyudmila Tsinkush who was injured during a Russian drones strike on her house walks in her garden, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, June 1, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Peter An emergency service member works at the site where Russian drones damaged several private houses, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, June 1, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Peter Local resident Lyudmila Tsinkush leaves her house that was damaged in a Russian drones strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, June 1, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Peter Russian attacks kill five in Zaporizhzhia, injure several in Kharkiv, regional officials say Russian shelling and air attacks killed five people outside the southeastern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzhia, while a drone attack on the northeast region of Sumy injured at least six early on Monday, including two children, regional officials said. Ivan Fedorov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said three women died in a series of Russian shelling incidents targeting the village of Ternuvate, east of Zaporizhzhia late on Sunday. A shop and several homes were badly damaged. A man died in a nearby district in a Russian strike by a guided aerial bomb, Fedorov said. A total of nine people were injured in the Russian attacks and a private home was destroyed. Two children were among those injured in a Russian drone attack on the Sumy region, Oleh Sinehubov, the governor of the region, said on Monday on Telegram. "A 7-year-old boy is among the victims," Sinehubov said. He added that several buildings throughout the regions were damaged. The attacks come as both Russia and Ukraine are about to meet for a round of peace talks, trying to find a way to end the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion on its smaller neighbour more than three years ago. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Ukraine drone attacks on Russia spark fires, disrupt traffic, officials say
Ukraine's overnight drone attacks on Russia's Kursk and Voronezh regions sparked residential fires and disrupted traffic on a major highway, regional officials said early on Monday. Russian air defence units destroyed a total of 162 Ukrainian drones overnight, downing 57 of the air weapons over the Kursk region that borders Ukraine. Falling debris from destroyed drones in the Kursk region sparked fires at several houses and damaged private apartments, acting governor of the region, Alexander Khinshtein, said on the Telegram messaging app. In the southern Russian region of Voronezh, where Russian air units destroyed 16 Ukrainian drones, regional governor Alexander Gusev said drone debris cut through power lines which fell on the M-4, a major expressway. A small section of the highway, which links the cities of Moscow, Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, was closed, Gusev said. Falling drone debris also damaged the facade of several houses, he added on Telegram. There were no injuries reported, the governors of the regions said. The attacks come as both Russia and Ukraine are about to meet for a round of peace talks, trying to find a way to end the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion on its smaller neighbour more than three years ago. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
