Manchester United's proposed tour of Asia in July is
likely to have a negative influence on the Asian Cup, Asian
Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed Bin Hammam said on
Sunday. Speaking before a meeting of the Asian Cup organising
committee, Hammam said United's tour so close to the July 7-29
tournament was casting a shadow over it.
"(The) organisation of different competitions in and around the AFC
Asian Cup is affecting the mood of the competition. The visit of
Manchester United is of particular concern to us," Hammam said.
"The Manchester United tour dates clash with the AFC Asian Cup and
AFC doesn't want any competitions to be promoted or organised
during the month of July.
"If the tour goes ahead then it will be a breach of the OAA
(Organising Association Agreement)." United are scheduled to play
in Malaysia on July 27, just two days before the Asian Cup final in
Jakarta. They are also due to make stops in China, Japan and South
Korea.
The AFC and Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) signed an OAA in
November, under the terms of which the Malaysians were supposed to
ensure the Asian Cup would not be battling for publicity with other
football events.
The Asian Cup is being co-hosted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam
and Thailand. FAM president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said
last month that Malaysia's Asian Cup responsibilities ended on July
25, when they host one of the semi-finals. United's match is two
days later and so there is no conflict. "There won't be a clash and
furthermore, the Manchester United tour is part of Visit Malaysia
Year and Malaysia's 50th year of independence," Shah told local
media.
