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Leeds United defend post-season tour of Myanmar despite persecution and ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims

Leeds United have said they will tour Myanmar - Sunderland AFC
Leeds United have said they will tour Myanmar - Sunderland AFC

Leeds United have defended plans for a controversial post-season tour of Myanmar, despite an ongoing military offensive in the country that has been described by the United Nations as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.

The Championship club are due to play two games in the war torn nation in south east Asia, with a friendly against a Myanmar National League All-Star team in Yangon on May 9 followed by a match against the Myanmar national team in Mandalay two days later.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all non-essential travel to four separate areas of Myanmar, formerly Burma.

Although Leeds will not be playing in any of those regions, political unrest is rife and the FCO warn of the threat of terrorist attacks while the government also class Myanmar as having a risk of Zika virus transmission.

The decision to tour Myanmar has sparked security and health fears and raised ethical questions. It is also understood to have caused some disquiet and concern among the playing squad, as well as inviting criticism from supporters on social media.

Leeds, who have advised fans to “wait for further advice” before arranging travel to the country, insist they will address any fears. It is believed players will be tested and that the appropriate medical care will be in operation.

Andrea Radrizzani - Leeds United defend post-season tour of Myanmar despite persecution and ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims - Credit: Heathcliff O'Malley
Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has business interests in Myanmar Credit: Heathcliff O'Malley

Leeds view the trip – which will be sponsored by AYA Bank – as a chance to grow the club in Asia. They plan to run football clinics with local children and visit cultural sites, such as Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon and the Maha Myat Muni Pagoda in Mandalay. Andrea Radrizzani, the Leeds owner, has business interests in Myanmar through his company, Eleven Sports, which owns a TV rights package in the region.

“Myanmar is one of the fastest growing nations in South East Asia and is passionate about English football,” said Leeds managing director, Angus Kinnear.

“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 in the coming years.

“From a football perspective we welcome the opportunity for our players who have not featured much in the past six months due to injuries the chance to continue their rehabilitation. The squad are very excited for the chance to represent the club in Asia.”

Rohingya Muslims driven from Burma, in pictures
Rohingya Muslims driven from Burma, in pictures

The move is a highly contentious one, though. Last month, Andrew Gilmour, the UN assistant secretary-general for human rights, claimed that “ethnic cleansing” of Rohingya Muslims is continuing. It is regarded as the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis. More than half a million Rohingya, who are one of the many ethnic minorities in Myanmar, have risked death by sea or on foot fleeing the destruction of their homes and persecution in the northern Rakhine province for neighbouring Bangladesh since August 2017.

Rohingya Muslims have their own language and culture but the government of Myanmar, which is a predominantly Buddhist country, denies the Rohingya citizenship and excluded them from the 2014 consensus, viewing them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

At a glance | Myanmar’s Rohingya people
At a glance | Myanmar’s Rohingya people

U Ko Ko Thein, general secretary of the Myanmar Football Federation, said the visit of Leeds would be an “important milestone” in the improvement and development of football in the country.

“Myanmar is a football-mad country and this tour will help us to showcase our passion for the game at and abroad,” he said.

Chris Hall, co-chairman and secretary of the Leeds United official supporters’ club, said: “It seems a strange choice of country for Leeds United to play two friendly games. There are concerns for the safety of the fans who will inevitably look to travel and support their team.”