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Wednesday, May 09, 2007
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Blatter slams Man U

Kuala Lumpur: FIFA president Sepp Blatter has urged Manchester United to reschedule a planned Asian tour that has been condemned as immoral and unethical by the continent's top football official.

The English Premier League champion is scheduled to visit Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Macau in a tour that will coincide with the 16-nation Asian Cup.

It is due to play in Malaysia on July 27, two days before the Asian Cup final in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Malaysia is one of four countries hosting the July 7-29 Asian Cup and organizers were concerned that the presence of one of the world's most recognizable sporting franchises would completely overshadow the quadrennial tournament.

"It is legitimate to say you are welcome but please not at a time when we are playing, according to an international calendar accepted by the whole football family, our biggest competition in July here in Asia," Blatter said on Tuesday in a speech to delegates at the Asian Football Confederation congress.

Asia is a lucrative market for top European clubs, and Manchester United has a very strong following throughout east and southeast Asia.

AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam said Asian countries welcomed cooperation with European clubs, but some "impose themselves on Asia without any care or thought about our football."

He said Manchester's planned visit would compete directly with the AFC Asian Cup for spectator interest, television viewership and ticket sales.

"This is a lack of respect. This is completely unethical, immoral and unacceptable," Hammam said.

He called on the countries involved to reschedule the tour.

"This is the time for us to demonstrate our unity and solidarity by putting Asian football first in Asia," he said.

Blatter echoed Hammam's views.

"As president of FIFA, I appeal to your solidarity. Solidarity and respect are two things that go together."

Malaysia pulls out

Malaysian authorities caved in to pressure AFC and ruled out Manchester United playing in the country in July.

The vice president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Tengku Abdullah Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah joined Hammam in calling for United's entire pre-season commercial tour to be called off.

"If they want to come during that time they can't," he said.

"The sanction has not been given by the AFC and we have to follow it. Manchester United cannot come to Malaysia during the Asian Cup. They will have to rearrange their schedule."

Malaysian officials recently announced the Manchester United match, part of a deal signed last year for the Manchester club to support tourism in this Southeast Asian country. — Agencies

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