KUALA LUMPUR: Newly-crowned English Premier League champions Manchester United’s trip to Malaysia on July 27 is off.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed Hammam made the plea during the AFC’s Congress in Kuala Lumpur for countries to withdraw support for United’s tour of Asia during the July 7-29 Asian Cup.
The promoter ProEvents had planned to kick off the tour against J-League champions Urawa Red Diamonds on July 17 in Japan, followed by FC Seoul (July 20) in South Korea, and Shenzhen FC (July 23) in Macau before the final leg of the tour against a Malaysian XI on July 27.
The Red Devils were due to play in Kuala Lumpur two days before the Asian Cup final in Jakarta. The AFC and Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) last year signed an agreement banning the promotion of any other football event during the Asian Cup.
FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said there was still an option to have the promoter reschedule Manchester United’s travel plans to Malaysia to August.
Manchester United officials are confident that the club’s planned summer tour of Asia will go ahead despite being told they would not be welcome in Malaysia in July because of fears their visit could distract attention from the finals of the Asian Cup.
“We are currently attempting to clarify with our tour organisers what the situation is with regards to Malaysia but we are confident that the rest of the tour will go ahead,” said club spokesman Phil Townsend.
FAM general secretary Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad: “As a Malaysian I’m surprised. It is out of tune for people to dictate to us how we celebrate our 50 years of independence.”
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KUALA LUMPUR: Newly-crowned English Premier League champions Manchester United’s trip to Malaysia on July 27 is off.
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