The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has put young Fulham Football Club signee Ben Davis and his father on blast in their latest statement about the matter of the footballer’s National Service (NS) deferment.
Some context first, if you’re not caught up on the issue.
- Ben, 17, signed a two-year professional contract with the English Premier League (EPL) club last Friday after putting up impressive performances on the field. He’s the first Singaporean to ever sign a pro contract in a top-tier EPL club.
- Singaporean lads, however, are required by law to be enlisted in NS once they turn 18.
- Ben applied to defer his term in NS but was outrightly rejected by Mindef on grounds that the young man is simply pursuing his personal career.
- Mindef asserts that deferments are only approved for individuals who represent Singapore on the world stage, like Olympic champ Joseph Schooling.
- Ben’s father, Harvey Davis, told Reuters that his son may be forced to consider giving up his Singapore citizenship for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in the EPL.
In a statement responding to media queries yesterday, Mindef claims that Ben actually has “no intention” at all to carry out his NS duties. This is what Mindef said, as published by TODAY.
- NS deferment is granted for exceptional sportsmen to represent national interests, not personal career development. Even if granted, deferment is given for a clearly defined period before athletes return to fulfill their NS duties.
- Harvey, however, would not “commit to a date” when his son would return and serve. The father also expressed that he would put his son’s professional career first.
- Despite the rejection for deferment, Ben signed the contract.
- Harvey publicly stated that he would encourage Ben to renounce his Singapore citizenship to pursue his career.
- “To allow deferment for this type of appeal, would severely undermine the ethos and sacrifice of Singaporeans who have all put aside their personal interests to complete their NS duties.”
‘The question is just when’
Harvey issued a statement of his own afterward, denying Mindef’s claim that his son has no intention of returning to Singapore to carry out his NS duties. The former executive at ESPN Star Sports asserted to the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth in an email that he had been clear that Ben should enlist and serve — but the time when he does remain unclear, depending on the teen’s development and progression.
According to Harvey, they were unable to commit to a date as there was a possibility that Ben could be offered a new contract in 2019, or be sent out on loan or sold to another club. The father also reiterated that though he said renunciation of the Singapore citizenship was an option, “it is ‘NOT’ Ben’s intention at all as he would like to represent Singapore”.
Mindef will probably put out yet another statement in response to Harvey soon.
Rising support
Remember that petition to Mindef to let Ben defer his NS to develop his talent? As of writing, it has over 19,000 signatures.
Remember that dude who won Singapore’s first gold medal in the Olympics? Schooling told various reporters at the sidelines of the Singapore Sports Awards yesterday that he empathized with Davis, and provided some kind words for the Fulham FC midfielder.
“It’s definitely a difficult situation for him. But my advice to him would be to follow his dreams, follow his heart, do what he needs to do,” the 23-year-old said. “He should get together with his parents, decide what’s the best plan for himself and go from there”.
Even the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) sided with Ben in the ongoing matter.
“At age 17, Benjamin has been given a contract to play football at a professional level with Fulham FC, in the English Premier League, and we believe that the support for a Singaporean to play at the highest level will have benefits to the community and nation,” wrote FAS in a statement, urging Mindef to take a “balanced approach” in the “unique case”.
“We will work with Benjamin and his family on the above, with a view to seeking to persuade Mindef of the merits of the application, and to assuage Mindef’s concerns over Benjamin’s NS commitments, and to find a balanced solution to the issue which best serves our nation’s interests.”
Reader Interactions