Greater oversight of finances needed at sports clubs, religious houses

SPORT, it is said, is somewhat like religion. Both sports teams and organised religion can inspire their most fanatic followers to extraordinary levels of commitment, sacrifice and ecstasy.

Both sport and religion, in the Singapore context, also involve very large sums of money. And sometimes, the money is not well spent. The recent police probe into a suspected misuse of funds at Tiong Bahru Football Club, and an apparent attempt by a senior club official to obstruct the completion of an audit, is a case in point.

Singaporeans have been apprised of the surprising fact that the amateur club is raking in more than S$30 million a year in revenue, mostly due to jackpot machines. After paying out jackpot winnings, the club is left with S$5 million, much of which goes towards staff and rental costs.