April 26 – Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has defended the club’s decision to play two post-season friendlies in Myanmar, saying the decision to play there is about people, not governments.
In May Leeds will play a Myanmar National League All-Star team in Yangon before facing the national team in Mandalay.
“I have spent over 10 years living in Asia and Myanmar is a country I have visited on many occasions,” Radrizzani said.
“I am aware of the serious issues within the country but I also know that it is a beautiful place filled with incredibly warm and welcoming people.
“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.”
Myanmar has been under fierce global criticism over accusations of ethnic cleansing and human rights abuses against its Muslim Rohingya minority.
Leeds’ tour will be sponsored by AYA, a private Myanmar bank implicated in ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya. Radrizzini says the tour is not about money and that Leeds will not receive a fee for playing in the country.
“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 south-east Asia,” he said.
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