Leeds United Football Club have announced they will play two matches in Myanmar next month as part of a post-season tour.
The club will play the matches on the May 9 and 11 against a Myanmar National League All-Star team in Yangon, and then against the country’s national team in Mandalay.
During the tour Leeds players and coaches will also run football sessions with local children and visit cultural sites, including Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.
Angus Kinnear (right), the managing director of Leeds United who was present during the
announcement of the tour in Yangon, said: “Myanmar is one of the fastest-growing nations in Southeast Asia and is passionate about English football.
“They have ambitious goals for grassroots and elite football development that we are delighted to be able to support. This tour gives us an opportunity to meet new fans of football who will hopefully support our journey back to the Premier League.”
This announcement has sparked controversy amongst human rights groups in the United
Kingdom, who have criticised the tour due to the ongoing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
By Jens Raitanen
