Hong Kong international Yapp Hung-fai denied chance to play with CSL club
Chinese Football Association turns down Guizhou's application for HK international as it wants to foster talent of mainland 'keepers
Hong Kong officials will seek clarification from their mainland counterparts after South China goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai was refused a playing opportunity, despite other Hong Kong players being classified as "locals".
A number of Hong Kong players are plying their trade in the mainland under the category of "local player", freeing up foreign player quotas, but this is not the case for Hong Kong international Yapp, who has caught the eye of CSL side Guizhou Renhe.
"We have heard about the case and I think we have an obligation to clarify the situation," said acting Hong Kong Football Association chairman Steven Lo Kit-sing, after a meeting of the board of directors last night.
"The China League has a very good standard, which always attracts our top players. We have players such as Chan Siu-ki and Leung Chun-pong there at the moment. We need to find out what's happening to Yapp."
Yapp, 23, helped South China lift the championship last season and, although he still has one year left on his contract, he wants to pursue his career across the border with South China's blessing.
The goalkeeper has been offered a four-year deal with Guizhou - as a "local player" in accordance with the existing rules. But the Chinese Football Association turned down Guizhou's application on Thursday because all goalkeepers in the CSL must be mainlanders and Yapp does not fulfil this requirement.
