Bosnian Alen Bajkusa yesterday stunned South China with a demand to quit Hong Kong's First Division.
The 25-year-old striker has asked the Caroliners for his international clearance through the Bosnian Football Association.
Bajkusa is expected to return to the territory today and will negotiate with South China team manager Lee Yun-wah over his future.
'Bajkusa has a one-year contract with South China. We cannot let him go after a telephone conversation,' said Lee after speaking to the forward.
'He said he had been away from Bosnia for a long time and that he now wanted to stay there with his family since the war is over.
'Our chairman, Mr Albert Hung, is not in town. No decision will be made until he returns.' Bajkusa vowed to quit Hong Kong football after he was suspended for five matches for head-butting Uhlsport-Rangers' striker Tong Yuen-sing and for trying to snatch a red card from the referee who sent him off.
Both incidents happened moments before a brawl erupted between players during their league game in January.