Sports / Soccer |
AFC president slams 'disrespectful' Man(Agencies)Updated: 2007-05-08 08:55 KUALA LUMPUR - AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam on Monday launched a stinging attack on Manchester United, calling them "disrespectful" and demanding they cancel their Asian tour. The pre-season commercial tour in July clashes with the Asian Cup finals, prompting bin Hamman to suggest the new Premier League champions put something back into Asian football instead of grabbing its money. "Cancel your tour -- this is the message on behalf of the whole Asian football family, all our players, our coaches," he said in response to AFP questions on the sidelines of the Asian Football Confederation Congress here. "It is disrespectful. This is not the solidarity we expect from the football family. "We expect Manchester United to look for something more than money. Asia is giving them so much money during the on-season. One month every four years and they cannot spare it to not play in Asia?" Bin Hammam fears the presence of Manchester United will divert attention away from the July 7-29 Asian Cup -- the region's flagship competition being co-hosted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Last month United announced they would warm up for the 2007-2008 season with a tour that takes them to Japan, South Korea, Macau and Malaysia. They plan to kick off against J-League champions Urawa Red Diamonds on July 17 in Saitama before travelling to the South Korean capital for a showdown with FC Seoul on July 20. Alex Ferguson's team are then due to head to Macau for a match against Shenzhen on July 23, before ending the tour in Kuala Lumpur on July 27 against a Malaysian XI. Bin Hamman said the Asian Cup dates were set by FIFA and each association hosting matches had signed guarantees not to promote or hold any other football games throughout July and for three days after the Cup concludes. He suggested the Football Association of Malaysia could face discipliniary action but reserved his harshest criticism for United, who were handed the league title on Sunday when Chelsea could only manage a 1-1 draw with Arsenal. "We are trying to encourage more spectators to watch Asian football but it looks like the people at Manchester want to fight this idea and corner this market," he said. "Frankly, it is a colonial way of thinking. It is not fair play at all. "We can prevent them legally in Malaysia but I don't want them to play in Korea, Japan or China either." He said he had been in touch with the Football Association as early as last September about the tour and had initially received assurances that it would not clash. Bin Hammam added that he had the support of FIFA president Sepp Blatter. |
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