with Hajduk management—led by club president —over unpaid wages. The star player became concerned the club would arrange for him to be sent off to his army service just to further delay the payments they owed him. On 3 December 1978, Žungul played in Hajduk's last league match before the 1978-79 mid-season winter break—a 5–0 home thrashing of FK Sarajevo at the Stari plac Stadium—scoring twice thus increasing his half-season scoring tally to 12 goals. He then asked the club management to allow him to travel to New York City for a few weeks in order to accompany his singer girlfriend Moni Kovačič (famous for appearing in , the Yugoslav counterpart to Playboy) while further disclosing to them that while in the U.S. he would also be taking part in a few exhibition indoor soccer matches in order to stay in competitive shape for the season restart. Not suspecting anything amiss, Hajduk granted permission. In actuality, through countryman Dragan Popović, Žungul (represented by sports agent Ante "Bekin" Kuzmić) had already agreed a contract with the newly-established, Popović-coached New York Arrows of the also recently launched Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). Žungul's idea was to defect from Yugoslavia, initially play some indoor soccer in the MISL, and then switch over to "real soccer" in the NASL once the dust settles. Within weeks, in late December 1978, his defection and deception became known back home, creating one of the biggest scandals in Yugoslav sporting history. Hajduk management was furious, starting a smear campaign against the player in Yugoslav media, branding him a traitor, a deserter, and a drunk. They also got the Yugoslav FA (FSJ) to enlist its FIFA connections and request a ban on Žungul taking part in any FIFA-affiliated competitions. FSJ did so and FIFA granted the ban, effectively blackballing him from the NASL. This left the MISL, which was not affiliated with FIFA, as his only option. Indoor soccer: New York Arrows Settling for an indoor football career, Žungul—now known as Steve Zungul—tried to make the best of the new situation. After playing European Cup football with Hajduk as well competing at the European Championship with Yugoslavia, the 24-year-old suddenly found himself in a whole new sport resembling human pinball with ice hockey-style dasher boards around the field, buzzers, flashing lights, disco music, galloping players and the ball rebounding haphazardly off the walls and around the turf. Though financially