Costa Rican blocked

There's been a setback for Melbourne Victory with FIFA's Player Status Committee knocking back the club's request for an International Transfer Certificate for Costa Rican midfielder Marvin Angulo.

Angulo will now need to wait for the Hyundai A-League transfer window to open on January 1 before he can be officially registered as a Melbourne Victory player.

If the transfer is rubber stamped as expected, the 22-year-old would be available for selection for the club's match against Newcastle Jets on January 10.

Angulo arrived in Melbourne early last month as a replacement for the injured Billy Celeski along with Thai international Sutee Suksomkit who was signed as a guest player following Danny Allsopp's move to Qatar.

At the time, the club was confident both players would be cleared in time for the Round 12 fixture against Adelaide United.

But while Suksomkit's papers were approved, there was a hold up with Angulo's.

FIFA's Player Status Committee apparently denied the transfer request on the basis that Angulo was contracted to Costa Rican side Club Sport Herediano at the time of the application and the pending loan agreement fell outside of the Hyundai A-League transfer window.

Angulo will continue to train with the Victory and it's understood that he remains 100-percent committed to helping the club to defend its A-League title and keen to remain involved through to the end of its Asian Champions League campaign next June.