German football club Bayer Leverkusen has refused to release its South Korean star, Son Heung-min, for the upcoming Asian Games, officials here said Wednesday, throwing the host country’s chance of ending its gold medal drought into doubt.

In a statement, the Korea Football Association said the Bundesliga team informed the South Koreans that it would not make Son available for the Sept. 19-Oct. 4 continental competition to be held in Incheon, west of Seoul.

The KFA said it first received a rejection letter from Germany on Tuesday, and it promptly asked Leverkusen to release Son for at least the knockout stage of the men’s football tournament, should South Korea get past the group phase.

According to the KFA, the German club turned down the South Korean request earlier on Wednesday, saying Son would not be released to play in Incheon, citing his importance to the club. Son was Leverkusen’s second-leading scorer last season with 10 goals.

The Asian Games matches aren’t on the official FIFA match calendar, and international clubs aren’t obliged to release their Asian players for the event. The new Bundesliga season opens later this month, and Bayer Leverkusen will also face FC Copenhagen in UEFA Champions League playoff matches in August.

Son’s absence is likely to deal a huge blow to South Korea’s hopes of winning its first Asian Games gold since 1986. A dynamic and versatile attacker with a nose for the goal, the 22-year-old was one of the few bright spots for South Korea at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in June. He scored a goal and was generally the only dangerous South Korean on offense, as the country crashed out with two losses and a draw. (Yonhap)