The Malaysian leg of Manchester United's pre-season tour
to Asia looks set to be abandoned. United are due to play games in
Japan, South Korea and Macao this summer, followed by a friendly in
Kuala Lumpur on 27th July against a Malaysian XI.
However, the country's football authorities have now ruled that
United cannot play there in July, as it would clash with the Asian
Cup. Fifa president Sepp Blatter has urged the newly crowned
Premiership champions to reschedule, while the Asian Football
Confederation is also keen for the tour not to go ahead as
planned.
"Players, coaches, referees, administrators and leagues are going
to benefit out of these visits no doubt," AFC chairman Mohammed bin
Hammam said on Sky Sports News. "But what I will not accept is for
these tours to take place during the off-season of the European
leagues, especially during the organisation of the Asian Cup. "I
will fight for these tours from European clubs not to happen during
July 2007."
The AFC and the Football Association of Malaysia signed an
agreement last year banning the promotion of any other soccer event
during the Asian Cup. And Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah,
president of the Malaysian FA, admitted: "We have to abide by the
ruling, I guess. "If they want to come at that time they can't. The
Asian Cup will have to take precedent."
A Manchester United spokesman has said the first three games of the
tour will definitely go ahead.
