Latest news with #SFA
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
SFA's amateur system risks another season of chaos for youth football
When the Scottish FA's Comet system crashed last year, you'd have thought it would have acted as ample warning against a repeat. Hundreds of matches were called off and a generation of volunteers were left in a state of frustration over their dealings with the SFA's complex computer registrations system. Several sources last year spelled out that Comet was overly complicated for the grassroots game. And too many people were stuck for too long in a 'computer says no' death loop. But roll on 12 months and with the new season six weeks away the computer pile-up is happening again with Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) checks. We can't overstate the importance of keeping kids safe but after last year's issues, there can be no excuse for another round of infuriating delays, exacerbated by the lack of any human helpline to streamline the process. Football is a moneymaker at the higher levels. And the SFA, which governs our national game, is not short of a few bob, with millions coming in via grant funding before any other revenue is even added up. That's why there is no excuse for failing to see this coming. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The SYFA needs a team of professional administrators that can master any system or database required to run the game. Professionals must be available at the end of a phone to educate the officials of clubs who give up their own free time to bring youngsters into the game. And the SFA needs to sort this out well before next summer – or they will score a hat-trick of own goals that no one wants to see. Welcome back, Lewis Capaldi Lewis Capaldi's return to music with an unannounced performance at Glastonbury showed just how much he has been missed. The singer had been on an extended break from music since 2023 due to his mental health struggles. The break had followed a concert on the same Pyramid Stage two years ago, when his voice 'packed in' and fans had to help him finish his biggest hit, Someone You Loved. Everyone understood Lewis, who suffers from anxiety and Tourette's, needed to put his health first. It was wonderful to see him once more engaging with his fans in his modest way, despite his incredible talent. He's also back with a new single that deals head on with his troubles and highlights once again what a special talent he is.
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
SFA's amatuer system risks another season of chaos for youth football
When the Scottish FA's Comet system crashed last year, you'd have thought it would have acted as ample warning against a repeat. Hundreds of matches were called off and a generation of volunteers were left in a state of frustration over their dealings with the SFA's complex computer registrations system. Several sources last year spelled out that Comet was overly complicated for the grassroots game. And too many people were stuck for too long in a 'computer says no' death loop. But roll on 12 months and with the new season six weeks away the computer pile-up is happening again with Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) checks. We can't overstate the importance of keeping kids safe but after last year's issues, there can be no excuse for another round of infuriating delays, exacerbated by the lack of any human helpline to streamline the process. Football is a moneymaker at the higher levels. And the SFA, which governs our national game, is not short of a few bob, with millions coming in via grant funding before any other revenue is even added up. That's why there is no excuse for failing to see this coming. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The SYFA needs a team of professional administrators that can master any system or database required to run the game. Professionals must be available at the end of a phone to educate the officials of clubs who give up their own free time to bring youngsters into the game. And the SFA needs to sort this out well before next summer – or they will score a hat-trick of own goals that no one wants to see. Welcome back, Lewis Capaldi Lewis Capaldi's return to music with an unannounced performance at Glastonbury showed just how much he has been missed. The singer had been on an extended break from music since 2023 due to his mental health struggles. The break had followed a concert on the same Pyramid Stage two years ago, when his voice 'packed in' and fans had to help him finish his biggest hit, Someone You Loved. Everyone understood Lewis, who suffers from anxiety and Tourette's, needed to put his health first. It was wonderful to see him once more engaging with his fans in his modest way, despite his incredible talent. He's also back with a new single that deals head on with his troubles and highlights once again what a special talent he is.
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kids football clubs facing more chaos as coaches in uproar over admin backlog
After huge delays last year with Comet computer software another wave of delays hits the SFA and its youth affiliate, which coaches believe may threaten kids' matches Kids' football is facing another summer of chaos that could stop youngsters playing the beautiful game. Coaches are not being vetted quick enough to be given clearance to work with children - and time is running out. It has led to a huge backlog of adults waiting to be given the green light to coach kids. One fed up coach told us there was no way enough checks would be done in time and said: 'It's a shambles.' The Scottish Football Association has been forced to fund emergency staff to deal with a two-month backlog in processing Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) applications for all adults dealing with kids. PVG clearance must be in place by July 1, otherwise any club or individual will be breaching new safeguarding legislation. The Daily Record can reveal that the latest registrations debacle has led the SFA to announce that a review of the running of its affiliate body, the Scottish Youth Football Association, will now be carried out. A consultancy firm is likely to be appointed in coming weeks, at the agreement of both organisations, which will probe how huge administration backlogs have severely hampered youth football for two seasons in a row. It is understood that some SYFA officials feel bitterly aggrieved at a funding gap, while the SFA board has been angered at the reputational damage caused by the disruption of a sport that involves more than 80,000 players, more than 15,000 coaches and many more from supportive families. The SFA has said the SYFA is now on 'special measures' until the review takes place. One coach said: 'It's hard to see how all the leagues will be up and running by August at this rate. 'We are angry about this because the Comet system last year was a nightmare, far too complex for grassroots teams and volunteer administrators and it definitely led to people leaving the game. 'This latest admin shambles proves that more cash needs to be put into youth football. The SYFA has 15,000 coaches and a handful of staff to deal with this stuff, with no-one to take a phone call. It's a shambles.' The Daily Record told last year of the problems faced by Darren Knight, founder of the Wallyford Rose club, who young team nearly folded due to issues with the Comet system. Darren said he submitted PVG applications around two months ago and is still awaiting clearance. He said: 'We have two approved coaches, which means we will still be able to function, but, in the end, our club was so successful last year we are starting up another team. 'If the PVG clearance doesn't come in time that would be scuppered. But we are not panicking yet and hope it gets processed in time.' To raise awareness, Disclosure Scotland has launched a major advertising campaign, urging anyone in a regulated role to ensure they are fully PVG registered before the deadline. The safeguarding body is working in conjunction with the SYFA, which processes applications via the much maligned Comet system, to clear the backlog. The Daily Record last year told of widespread fury as the Scottish Football Association's complex new Comet computer system wreaked havoc, leading to many games being postponed and some coaches saying they were giving up. Coaches have again contacted us to rage about the many hours they have spent trying to get volunteers registered. The rush for teams to get compliant overwhelmed the threadbare paid staff at the SYFA, causing the two-month backlog. SFA and SYFA at loggerheads over funding - review may pave way for reform The Record's latest revelations on a footie admin fiasco sheds light on a rift between the SFA and affiliate SYFA. The coming review will seek to examine what has gone wrong in the last two seasons with the Comet delays and now the PVG application pile-up. But it will also look at the amount of cash being fed by the SFA into its youth body, where there is a feeling that too much strain is being heaped on volunteer staff. The appointment of Scott Robertson as SYFA chairman, who has spoken publicly of reforming the organisation, was accompanied by calls from within for an independent review of its governance. The latest registration log-jam has led the SFA to get ahead of the bad news. A source at the organisation said: 'The SFA board agreed to the request for financial support for the PVG admin to help clear the backlog, on the proviso that they undertake an independent investigation into how it's run. They have effectively put the SYFA on special measures. 'There has been a general concern over the corporate governance of the organization. 'The SFA wants to get a bit closer to the financial planning and decision making and they believe an independent review will examine how they operate as a body and what steps need to be taken within the organisation. 'As well as the financial part of it will be an independent review into the SYFA. The source added: 'There is a general feeling that the all is not well at the SYFA at board level. 'If you've got an affiliated body that signs up to your articles, you need to know that they're actually coming good on it. 'The SFA wants to get a closer handle on the governance and how the organisation operates. 'The last time around, Scottish FA got the blame for an affiliate not doing its job properly. There's been a few expressions of concern, and the SYFA board themselves have agreed to an independent review of operations.' 'As a board, we can't risk this descending into the same situation as last time. So this is, this is what we propose doing. And in fairness, they seemed receptive to it.' One coach with many years of experience with a prominent club, said the latest hold-up was the last straw and he's quitting the game. The coach said: 'We've been tearing our hair out because the computer system just keeps on rejecting applications on administration errors but offer no solutions or contact details to resolve. 'The reality is that we get no calls back from the SYFA because they have no professional staff assigned to deal with this fiasco.' The coach said that applications had been returned due to confusion over whether PVG applications could be transferred form one club to another. He said: 'With the Comet system we can't work out how we get out of the 'computer says no' loop and standard emails from the SYFA don't help us find a solution. 'What we need is a helpline to speak to a human being who can find solutions not a computer system that issues stock responses which basically say 'computer says no, try again'.' He added: 'After 10 years of this type of nonsense I'm stopping down as a committee member and coach as it's impossible to work under this type of incompetence.' Another grassroots official said: 'This is so reminiscent of the Comet fiasco last year, where volunteers got stick on their computers for days on end and could never get a human being to sort things out for them.' Officials have told us how devised workarounds by placing PVG-registered volunteers in dual roles, as they wait for other individuals to get their own clearance after the legal deadline. A SYFA spokesperson said: 'We fully understand the frustrations of our members around the delay in processing PVG applications. 'With around 15,000 volunteer coaches in our game and more joining daily, it is a mammoth undertaking. In recent weeks, we have advertised, interviewed, and recruited an additional staff member to focus solely on tackling the backlog. 'The Scottish FA has, just last week, agreed to match our commitment and will fund a second PVG admin assistant for six months. 'We hope to reduce the backlog significantly with two new full-time people dedicated to processing PVG's. 'In addition, we will also look at the PVG process and whether this can be streamlined. In the meantime, we are working on issuing a step-by-step guide for our members.' A spokesperson for the SFA said: 'SYFA initially wrote to us requesting support to clear their backlog 'The Scottish FA has initiated special measures to provide funding support to clear PVG backlog, to support the operations and initiate the review.' From April 1 this year, changes to the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 meant anyone in contact with or communicating with children without a PVG would be committing a criminal offence, as would the organisation they operate within. A three month period of grace takes the deadline to July 1 - meaning any teams with coaches stuck in an admin log-jam may be affected.
Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Independent Singapore
SFA investigates after diners ingest plastic pieces in durian dessert that they thought was crushed ice
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has begun investigations after a pair of friends discovered hard plastic pieces in their durian snow ice dessert from popular dessert chain Mei Heong Yuen Dessert. The incident took place on 11 June. One of the friends, Jes, told citizen journalism site Stomp that they initially mistook the sharp fragments for crushed ice. 'We encountered small pieces of hard objects, but swallowed them at first, thinking they were crushed ice,' she said, 'However, when we came across a particular hard piece, we realised it was actually hard plastic!' Alarmed, the pair brought the issue to the attention of the restaurant's staff. They requested that the remaining durian purée be filtered in their presence and recorded the process on video. The filtering apparently revealed even more pieces of plastic embedded in the dessert. Jes attempted to escalate the matter, asking to speak with the outlet's manager. However, her call went unanswered. She and her friend then contacted the brand's main outlet in Chinatown. 'The owner answered the call and claimed it was impossible for them to be plastic. She offered a replacement, exchange, or refund,' Jes recounted, 'We explained to her the seriousness of the situation, but she still brushed it off and said she would ask the staff for photos and send the dessert down to her to investigate.' The next day, instead of receiving the promised follow-up from the manager, Jes received a voice message from a staff member who insisted there could not have been any plastic in the durian purée. Jes said that when she called back to express her concerns, the owner became hostile. 'She pushed the responsibility to her supplier and claimed the durian was not grown by her,' Jes said, 'We told her we would report the case to the authorities for investigation and she guilt-tripped us by asking if we wanted to see her die.' SFA has confirmed that it is currently investigating the matter. The government agency told Stomp: 'Food safety is a joint responsibility. While SFA puts in place and enforces the regulatory measures, food operators must play their part by adhering to good food hygiene and preparation practices.' See also Netizen: Man who posed as landlord assaulted my wife and child Consumers who encounter potential food safety lapses are encouraged to report such cases directly to the agency through their online feedback form at
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
New EcoFood@Mandai Development Offers Tailored Food Factory Spaces in the North
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 June 2025 - A new food factory hub, EcoFood@Mandai, has officially launched in Singapore's northern region, bringing purpose-built factory units to a wide range of food and beverage (F&B) businesses. Strategically located in the Mandai industrial zone, this development aims to serve as a functional space for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to set up operations such as food processing, manufacturing, or packaging within a dedicated infrastructure. EcoFood@Mandai Food Factory in Singapore The opening comes at a time when demand for food production space remains steady, driven by Singapore's robust F&B sector and government initiatives to strengthen local food resilience. By offering customisable units for sale, not rent, EcoFood@Mandai provides long-term asset security for business owners while supporting operational flexibility through modular design options. A Wide Range of F&B Operations The local industry comprises a diverse mix of food businesses, from large-scale food manufacturers to cloud kitchen operators and specialised artisanal producers. Common types of operations include cold storage, roasted coffee bean production, cooked meat manufacturing, dessert preparation, and seafood processing. At EcoFood@Mandai, each unit is designed with the infrastructure to support a wide spectrum of these activities. Businesses in Singapore may install their own cold room facilities, set up commercial-grade kitchens, or develop bespoke layouts to support streamlined workflow, hygiene zoning, and food safety protocols. This flexibility is particularly important for growing brands who require purpose-built spaces for their unique production lines. One example might be a commercial kitchen operator preparing frozen meals for retail and delivery. Another may be a beverage start-up requiring controlled temperature zones for bottling and mixing. By purchasing space at EcoFood@Mandai, these businesses gain ownership over their premises while enjoying shared access to vehicle loading bays, high floor loading capacities, and waste management systems—features that are essential to food factory operations. Built for the Modern Food Industry Unlike conventional industrial buildings, EcoFood@Mandai is tailored specifically for food businesses. The units are zoned for food production and come with features suited to chilled and frozen storage, food preparation, and even automation. Owners can install a cold room Singapore-compliant with HACCP or SFA standards to ensure product safety and temperature control, which is vital in handling perishable goods such as seafood, dairy, and pre-cooked meals. Additionally, the development's layout is conducive to cloud kitchen setups, which continue to be in demand as the online food delivery economy matures. Businesses can build dedicated cloud kitchen spaces within the units, enabling them to serve multiple food brands under one roof with optimised kitchen workflows and minimal customer-facing space requirements. A Strategic Mandai Location Located within the Mandai industrial cluster, the new Mandai food factory project benefits from proximity to key food manufacturing zones and established logistics routes. Its closeness to the Woodlands Causeway significantly reduces transportation time, an essential advantage for businesses dealing with perishable goods and time-sensitive distribution. The area is also home to a growing number of commercial kitchen operators, particularly those serving institutions and food delivery services. The ability to customise and install a fully operational cold room on site enhances the value proposition for companies looking to expand capacity or reduce reliance on leased facilities. The nearby Sungei Kadut Eco District is set to become a hub for innovation, with upcoming developments like the Agri-Food Innovation Park. This ecosystem will bring food manufacturers, high-tech farming communities, suppliers, and distributors in one vicinity, creating opportunities for collaboration and operational efficiency. Ownership Over Leasing EcoFood@Mandai differs from typical rental-based food factory developments. Units are available for sale only, offering buyers complete autonomy in tailoring their space to suit specific production needs. Whether outfitting a central kitchen, a drinks bottling line, or a raw ingredient packaging area, buyers can work with their own contractors and consultants to optimise the layout. This model of ownership aligns with the long-term needs of food manufacturers, many of whom require stability to make capital-intensive investments such as refrigeration systems or food-safe flooring. The ability to build a dedicated cold room, a key element in many food production businesses, without tenancy constraints adds to the site's appeal. A New Chapter for Singapore's Food Production Landscape As Singapore continues to grow its food resilience strategy, developments like EcoFood@Mandai will play a role in enabling innovation, scale, and specialisation in food production. From central kitchens to cold storage operators, the development caters to the varied needs of modern food businesses. With purchase-only units and the infrastructure to support everything from commercial kitchen setups to cold room Singapore installations, EcoFood@Mandai is poised to become a key destination for F&B enterprises seeking to build a long-term footprint in the #EcoFood@Mandai The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About EcoFood@Mandai EcoFood@Mandai is a newly launched food factory development located in the Mandai industrial zone in Singapore. Designed specifically for food and beverage businesses, it offers customisable, strata-titled factory units for sale. The development caters to a wide range of operations, including food production, processing, packaging, and storage. With infrastructure for commercial kitchens, and cloud kitchen setups, EcoFood@Mandai supports the evolving needs of Singapore's dynamic F&B landscape.
