Refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi will be on the sidelines for his Melbourne club's first home game of the Victorian Premier League season.
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The much-anticipated return of Pascoe Vale Football Club's star defender was due on Friday, but won't go ahead.
The 25-year-old returned to Melbourne last week after a much-publicised stint in a Bangkok jail after his birth-country Bahrain pursued his extradition over allegations he vandalised a police station before he sought asylum in Australia.
Mr Al-Araibi denies the allegation.
Throughout his two-month incarceration, Mr Al-Araibi said he maintained his fitness in anticipation of returning to his beloved soccer club and the semi-professional league.
He has attended training sessions, but a spokesman for the Pascoe Vale club confirmed on Thursday he is not expected to play in Friday's fixture against Bentleigh.
On his return to Melbourne, Mr al-Araibi openly declared his love for Australia.
"I don't have citizenship yet, but my country is Australia. I will die in Australia and I love Australia. Thank you very much," he said.
Since returning to Australia Mr Al-Araibi has visited Canberra to meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
An Australian Border Force error contributed to Mr Al-Araibi's Thai arrest and jailing.
Australian Associated Press
