Cai "Krystal" Shilong apologized Thursday after being fined and "gravely warned" by his Overwatch League team, the Hangzhou Spark, for failing to return to the club after an excused absence.
According to a tweet from the Spark, Krystal was granted a 10-day leave from the team due to a family illness. However, the China native didn't return when he was due back on July 15 and remains absent without having requested an extension of his leave.
The team announced: "1. Krystal is gravely warned. 2. Krystal will be fined 3 times ... his salary of his absent days without permission."
Krystal, 18, replied to the announcement with a post on the Weibo social-media site. According to translations from multiple media outlets, Krystal said his return was delayed due to visa difficulties, and that he only was reapproved on Monday. He added that he didn't know he needed to contact the team to extend his leave, but he expressed his regrets and said he would return to the club soon.
It was unclear if he would be back in time for the Spark's next Overwatch League match on Saturday against the Atlanta Reign in Burbank, Calif., at the start of the season's Stage 4.
Hangzhou most recently lost in the quarterfinals of the Stage 3 playoffs. The Shock are in fourth place in the overall season standings at 14-7.
-- Field Level Media