Football: Asian Games blow as key midfielder Hariss is not released by his Malaysian club

Hariss Harun square off with Hong Kong's Captain, Chan Wai Ho. Singapore midfielder Hariss Harun will not travel with the Under-23 football team to South Korea for the upcoming Asian Games football tournament. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
Hariss Harun square off with Hong Kong's Captain, Chan Wai Ho. Singapore midfielder Hariss Harun will not travel with the Under-23 football team to South Korea for the upcoming Asian Games football tournament. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

Singapore midfielder Hariss Harun will not travel with the Under-23 football team to South Korea for the upcoming Asian Games football tournament.

Hariss' Malaysian Super League club Johor Darul Takzim has declined to release the the player as the Sept 14-Oct 2 Asian Games tournament is not listed on Fifa's match calendar. As such, it is not compulsory for clubs to release their players for events outside the Fifa match days.

Hariss, who turns 24 in November, was one of national head coach Bernd Stange's preferred trio of over-age players for the Under-23 competition, alongside Hassan Sunny and Baihakki Khaizan. Each team can select up to three over-age players.

The squad leave for South Korea on Thursday morning. They play Tajikistan on Sunday, followed by Oman (Sept 17) and Palestine (Sept 21).

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