Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani forced to defend Burma tour decision
Leeds United FC announced on Tuesday morning that they would visit Burma for a post-season tour including a game against the national side, to the dismay of political activists.
Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani was forced to speak out in order to defend the club's decision to hold their post-season tour in the Southeast Asian country of Burma.
The UN has accused Burma of ethnic cleansing and significant abuse of human rights against the Muslim Rohingya communited, resulting in the displacement 700,000 people across the border to Bangladesh.
The UK Rohingya community deemed Leeds' decision 'disgraceful', they said: ''Leeds United FC is going to play football on the grounds soaked in the blood of innocent Rohingya children, women and older people.''
Radrizzani responded in an open letter on the club official website. He wrote: ''I have spent over ten years living in Asia and Myanmar is a country I have visited on many occasions.''
He admitted: ''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. It is somewhere very close to my heart.''
''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.''
He continued to defend the Leeds' decision by writing: ''We simply want to use sport to do some good. We can't spread our values by turning our backs, we can only do this by engaging. We will go to Myanmar to share the famous values and ethos of Leeds United Football Club.''
The choice of destination has also drawn criticism for being ''morally corrupt'' from Labour MP and shadow sports minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, as well as Amnesty International whilst the UK Foreign Office warns against non-essential travel to large areas of the country.