1st S'pore-born footballer to sign for EPL club applied to renounce S'pore citizenship to 'evade NS': Mindef

[The_King]

Harry Birtwistle, 17, became the first Singapore-born footballer to sign for an English Premier League (EPL) club.

 

 

Birtwistle, who is of both Singaporean and British descent, signed a professional contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) on Wednesday (Oct. 27).

 

Applied to renounce his Singapore Citizenship

 

On Friday (Oct. 29), the Singapore Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said Birtwistle's parents had applied to renounce his Singapore citizenship.

 

According to Mindef, Birtwistle is a Singapore citizen who had stayed in Singapore. He also carried a Singapore passport.

Under Singapore's Enlistment Act, all male Singaporeans are required to serve national service (NS) at age 18 or older.

Mindef said Birtwistle's applications were rejected as "renunciation should not be used as a means to evade NS duties".

Birtwistle's family had stated that he will not be registering for NS, according to Mindef.

Since then, Birtwistle has failed to register for NS as required.

 

Staying overseas without valid exit permit

 

Birtwistle is also staying overseas without a valid exit permit, Mindef said.

 

The ministry added: "Birtwistle has committed offences under the Enlistment Act."

 

Born to Singaporean mother and British father

 

According to The Straits Times, Birtwistle was born in Singapore to a Singaporean mother and British father.

He stayed in Singapore until he was 13. He then moved to England to be an EPL player.

In a media interview after his contract-signing with Wolves, Birtwistle was asked if he wanted to play for the Singapore national football team.

 

He replied, as reported by ST: "I’m open to anything, but right now I’m putting all of my focus to my club."

To play for the Singapore national team, Birtwistle has to give up his British passport and enlist for NS in Singapore.

Birtwistle also said in a media statement, according to ST:

 

"I'm so honoured to be standing here today as a Singapore-born professional footballer at a Premier League club. Hopefully, this can inspire others after me who don't believe they can do it."

[The_King]

 His father, John, would later release a statement that the changes on work permit requirements for non-British citizens following the Brexit had made it essential for Harry to keep his British citizenship to pursue a football career in the Premier League, and Harry had not wanted to intentionally skip NS.[8]

 

 

Harry Birtwistle - Wikipedia

 

 

 

enough liao, no need come back, the world so big

[XianGe]

Career more impt. Join ns then his epl dream gone

[coffeenut]

 

The Birtwistles 

Edited November 21, 2023 by coffeenut

[aaur4man]

ya sinkie males career not important 

[Homelander]

19 hours ago, XianGe said:

Career more impt. Join ns then his epl dream gone

 

Yeah, if he makes it big hosay