Singapore Cup: Global starts semifinal showdown vs Geylang

SINGAPORE—An embattled Global side tries to take the heat off a controversy back home when it guns for a semifinal spot in the prestigious Singapore Cup here.

The 2014 UFL champion squares off with S-League side Geylang in a two-leg showdown starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Jalan Besar Stadium. The second leg is set Sunday at Bedok Stadium with the winner decided by aggregate.

Global arrived here reeling from the decision of the United Football League to disqualify the club from the UFL Cup for fielding Satoshi Otomo as a Filipino player for three games in the league competition.

The league, acting on a complaint by four clubs, said Global failed to provide enough documents to prove Otomo’s Filipino lineage.

Global was also fined P250,000 for the offense, but the club, insisting that Otomo’s mother is Filipino, has since elevated the case to the Philippine Football Federation. Otomo, who even played one game for the Azkals, was released by Global last May.

“Our focus now is representing the country in the Singapore Cup,” said Global owner Dan Palami. “We’re leaving our case up to the PFF but our target is to put up a strong performance here and reach the semifinals.”

A victory by Global will allow the club to replicate its 2013 finish.