Thailand player faces jail time if going to Singapore for AFF Cup

Davis is on the list of 26 Thailand players for the 2024 AFF Cup 2024 who are scheduled to play an away match in Singapore on Dec. 17. However, according to The Straits Times, the midfielder is at risk of being arrested because he has not yet completed his national service under Singapore law.

The Football Association of Thailand and Ben Davis refused to comment on the matter when contacted, the newspaper said.

This incident was mentioned when Thailand were preparing for the 2020 AFF Cup, which took place in Singapore in 2021. Davis was on the preliminary list, but the then Thailand coach Mano Polking decided not to call him up.

Ben Davis (number 22) scores in the match between Thailand and Vietnam in the group stage of the 2022 Asian Cup. Photo by FAT

Davis was born in Phuket in 2000 to a Thai mother and a British father. He moved to Singapore with his family when he was five years old and became a Singaporean citizen four years later.

The midfielder played for Singapore’s U16 and U19 teams. He was then called up to the national team in 2018 but did not play. A year earlier, Davis became the first Singaporean player to sign a professional contract with a Premier League club, Fulham. Davis applied to the Ministry of Defense of Singapre for a deferment of national service but was rejected.

At that time, Davis's case was brought to the Singapore Parliament. Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen gave three reasons for rejecting the deferment request.

Firstly, Davis registered to play for Fulham as an English national. Secondly, Davis' father, Harvey Davis, "consistently refused" to provide an exact date when his son would return to do national service if he was granted a deferment and said that "there are a lot of variables all dependent on the development and progression of his son".

Lastly, Harvey hinted that Ben Davis would still sign for Fulham even if he could not defer his national service, and considered letting his son renounce his Singaporean citizenship to pursue a football career.

In August 2019, Davis came on in the 89th minute of Fulham's 0-1 League Cup defeat to Southampton. A month later, he was called up to Thailand squad for the SEA Games 30 in the Philippines. This decision was seen as Ben Davis's declaration that he would play for his mother's national team Thailand, instead of Singapore.

Davis revealed that his father wanted him to play for Singapore, but that did not happen. "This is the best choice for me," Davis told Thai TV channel True4U. Thai football has a bright future and a chance to succeed. My parents also support my decision to the fullest.

In February 2019, Singapore’s Ministry of Defense said Davis had failed to complete his mandatory national service and has defaulted on his commitments. He was also staying overseas without a valid exit permit. Violators of Singapore's Enlistment Act could face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Davis continued to play for Thailand at the 2020 and 2022 U23 Asian Cup, then the 2022 SEA Games, scoring a goal in a 5-0 win over Singapore. In 2023, he was called up to the Thailand national team for the first time, then played in a friendly match against Georgia, losing 0-8.

At club level, Davis left Fulham to play for Oxford City from 2021 to 2023. After just one season, he returned to Thailand to play for Port FC on loan, then Chonburi FC and now Uthai Thani.

Thailand have called up just enough players according to the AFF Cup 2024 regulations. However, teams are only allowed to register 23 players in the official squad before each match. Therefore, Davis may not go to Singapore with Thailand to avoid legal risks.