The Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) said on Sunday that for now, only star defender Shinichi Chan won’t be playing in the final match against the national team at an East Asian tournament, because his club has recalled him.

Multiple media reports suggested that SAR players competing in the Chinese Super League would be recalled ahead of Tuesday’s clash at the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship in South Korea.

In a statement, the HKFA clarified that the decision for Chan, 22, to play only two of the three games at the tournament had been reached before the competition began.

"[The agreement was] made in consideration of the player's overall physical fitness and best interest, making sure that the player is not overloaded with an intense playing schedule," the statement read.

The HKFA said the coaching team had coordinated this arrangement at the time of player selection and made the necessary preparations to ensure the squad was ready for the games.

It added that so far it has received no other requests for the release of SAR players.

The association stressed that clubs were not obliged to release players for international duty, because the tournament was being held outside the Fifa international match window.

Both the SAR and the national teams are looking for their first points at the tournament, having suffered defeats to the hosts and Japan.