Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani defends Myanmar tour
Wednesday 25 April 2018 14:48, UK
Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani has defended the club's controversial post-season tour of Myanmar next month.
The Championship club have been urged to scrap the planned trip, which has been branded "morally corrupt" by shadow sports minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan.
But writing in an open letter to fans, Radrizzani said he had visited the country many times and that it was "somewhere very close to my heart".
He added: "The club is not receiving any fee to play. Rather I see this both as a personal initiative to support local football and a way to introduce the name of Leeds United in the fastest growing country in Southeast Asia.
"I believe the tour will have a positive impact on the local community in parts of the country we intend to visit. This was a carefully considered decision and we knew it would be controversial, but this is about people not governments.
"It has never been my intention, nor that of the club, to get involved in a political debate in Myanmar. However, if because of the tour we further highlight the ongoing serious issues in certain areas of the country, then maybe that is a positive thing."
Leeds will play two friendly matches in the country, against an all-star team from Myanmar's National League on May 9 before they take on the national team two days later.
Political unrest has been a feature of life in Myanmar for several years. The UN claimed last month that "ethnic cleansing" is rife in the country, with coordinated attacks on Muslims. Seventy people died in the country last August, when insurgents attacked police and armed forces.
