SINGAPORE - Singapore international and Tampines Rovers defender Shakir Hamzah was arrested at the Changi Airport on Friday (Jan 13), just as he was about to leave for a pre-season training tour with his club.

The 24-year-old was part of the Stags squad that was bound for Terengganu, but was apprehended at the airport on Friday morning as the players assembled for their flight.

Shakir’s arrest was due to a failure to attend court. TODAY understands that the case involves the player's family issues.

A police spokesman confirms that "a 24-year-old man was arrested on Jan 13 pursuant to a warrant of arrest issued for his failure to attend court".

It is not clear if Shakir is out on bail or remain in detention.

The arrest has cast doubts over whether the Singapore international will be available to play in Tampines’ first match of the season, an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League qualifying clash away to Philippines’ Global FC on Jan 24.

Tampines vice-chairman Christopher Wong told TODAY he was not fully clear of all the facts surrounding Shakir’s situation, but said the club will comply with the law.

“Definitely, we would like to have the full-strength squad there (in Manila) but the law would have to take precedence," he said.

"If the authorities deem (that) they need him here, then we have to abide by it,” he said. “Shakir is a key member of the team…but I think we’ve got able replacements. It’s the start of the season and everybody is raring to get a run out, and they want to play in the AFC (tie).”

TODAY understands that Shakir had missed training sessions and was uncontactable for a period of time leading up to his shock arrest.

In a report in The New Paper, Tampines chairman Krishna Ramachandra said that the club's staff and coaches have been supportive of the troubled player.

"At the same time, the individual needs to step up and commit to solving his problems,” he was quoted as saying. "If (Shakir's indiscretions) go against the philosophy of the club, then we will be forced to take action."

Shakir has had a troubled past. In 2013, he went absent without leave (AWOL) while serving full-time National Service (NS) in the Police Force to travel to Malaysia to play for Malaysia Super League side LionsXII in a 1-1 draw with Pahang FA.

On the day that he was supposed to complete his NS, he was sentenced to four days in detention barracks. He was also fined S$4,000 by the Football Association of Singapore and ordered to do 30 hours of community service.

Shakir joined Tampines last year following the disbandment of LionsXII, making 28 appearances across all competitions and scoring twice.

Capped 31 times by Singapore, he can play at both centre-back and left-back, and completed all three games during the Lions’ group-stage exit at last year’s Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.