Man U Cannot Play Without AFC Approval, Says Club's Website
KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama) -- English Premier League (EPL) champions Manchester United cannot play the scheduled friendly match in Malaysia on July 27 without the official approval of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), according to the club's official website.
A news item on the website said this was because of the agreement between the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) with the AFC to act as host for the Asian Cup.
"The club hopes that the issues can be resolved by the relevant parties to ensure that this celebration match can take place as planned," said the news item.
It said Manchester United has had a series of meetings today with the Youth and Sports Ministry, FAM and AFC, which has its office in Kuala Lumpur, on the planned friendly with a Malaysian selection in Kuala Lumpur on July 27.
Manchester United chief executive officer David Gill and EPL chairman Dave Richards had meetings separately with Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, AFC president Mohamed Hammam and FAM representatives.
However, the outcome was not as expected. FAM is still tied to the agreement to host the Asian Cup 2007 from July 7 to 29.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the Cabinet decided that Manchester United should make the trip to Kuala Lumpur as the club could provide a boost to the country's 50th anniversary of independence celebration and Visit Malaysia Year 2007 programmes.
Azalina asked the AFC to give Malaysia special exemption to allow the EPL champions to play the friendly as scheduled on July 27.
Hamman had said in a statement that he wanted the friendly match to be rescheduled.
-- BERNAMA
A news item on the website said this was because of the agreement between the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) with the AFC to act as host for the Asian Cup.
"The club hopes that the issues can be resolved by the relevant parties to ensure that this celebration match can take place as planned," said the news item.
It said Manchester United has had a series of meetings today with the Youth and Sports Ministry, FAM and AFC, which has its office in Kuala Lumpur, on the planned friendly with a Malaysian selection in Kuala Lumpur on July 27.
Manchester United chief executive officer David Gill and EPL chairman Dave Richards had meetings separately with Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, AFC president Mohamed Hammam and FAM representatives.
However, the outcome was not as expected. FAM is still tied to the agreement to host the Asian Cup 2007 from July 7 to 29.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the Cabinet decided that Manchester United should make the trip to Kuala Lumpur as the club could provide a boost to the country's 50th anniversary of independence celebration and Visit Malaysia Year 2007 programmes.
Azalina asked the AFC to give Malaysia special exemption to allow the EPL champions to play the friendly as scheduled on July 27.
Hamman had said in a statement that he wanted the friendly match to be rescheduled.
-- BERNAMA
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