LEEDS UNITED HAVE taken the unusual step of announcing that they will take in a post-season tour of Myanmar, to the disgust of fans.
The Championship club, currently 12th in the English second tier, will play matches against an MNL All-Star Team and the Myanmar national team, which is ranked 135th in the world, in May.
The move is a bizarre one, given that there is serious, violent unrest in the country at present.
Myanmar has been involved in “ethnic cleansing” of Rohingya Muslims throughout the last year, with estimates from Doctors Without Borders putting the death toll in the first month alone at 6,700 people, per Al Jazeera .
Nevertheless, Leeds plan to visit the country and will run football clinics with local children in addition to their fixture commitments.
“Myanmar is one of the fastest growing nations in South East Asia and is passionate about English football,” said 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.”
A number of supporters have expressed their concerns over the move, despite Kinnear’s confidence, with several pointing to the plight of the Rohingya people.
We are actually going on tour to a warzone. We have just gone full Leeds.
— ZL (@SupremeJansson) April 24, 2018
No concerns about the ethnic cleansing going on in Myanmar at the moment, no?
— Prof. F J Lewis (@mikeopinions) April 24, 2018
I don't think I've ever been this disgusted to be a Leeds supporter. It
— Mike (@LeedsMJ84) April 24, 2018
Going to a country committing actual genocide against its own people.
Appalling, Leeds.
Leeds United's status as the most ridiculous club in English football confirmed as they announce a post-season tour of two meaningless friendlies in ... war-torn Myanmar. #lufc
— James Willoughby (@jwilloughby26) April 24, 2018
I’ve spoken to #lufc about the post season trip to Myanmar (Burma) which is sponsored by a bank. The region has a population of c. 50m & is seen as a market of interest & 1 that can afford the visit of Leeds as opposed to top PL clubs who regularly go to wealthier areas of Asia.
— Adam Pope (@APOPEY) April 24, 2018
The President of the Myanmar FA/League is a wealthy industrialist & along with the rest of Asia is PL obsessed. Leeds see this as a chance to grow the club. Stadia have been checked & will comply to FIFA standards with tickets expected to be a few dollars. Hoping for 20k crowds.
— Adam Pope (@APOPEY) April 24, 2018
Leeds fans,
— Leeds Fan (@LeedsFanz) April 23, 2018
Everything you need to know about Travel to Myanmar/Burma for the post season tour...
“Continued risk of armed conflict
Situation is volatile
Armed clashes
Terrorists likely to carry out attacks
Risk of Zika Virus transmission”
🔷⚪️🔶
See you there 👍🏻💀#LUFC pic.twitter.com/UinVfL8av2
This is going to be an interesting media cycle. I think Leeds will try to stick it out for a week and then, after someone at the club finally googles "Myanmar", cancel the matches while blaming "uninformed social media coverage". https://t.co/cu5FtX7FW9
— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) April 24, 2018
Leeds have, perhaps optimistically, claimed that travel advice will be given to supporters soon.
– First published 11.05, 24 April
If he gets back into the Irish setup without others getting injured I’d be very surprised. Saying that if he does merit a recall then he’ll be playing fantastic rugby so for Ireland sake I hope he does.
@Chris Mc: It’s all about him I reckon cause he’s definitely got the talent/ability. As someone else pointed out here he looked in bad shape for a lot of his time at Wasps, if he really focuses on that he could challenge for a place on the squad no problem.
@The Irish Pain: wasps wanted him heavier, to be a different prop than the mobile less effective scrumager cooper wolley
Ireland now have 5 reliable TH props available . Furlong , Porter , Bealham , Ryan and Moore : all under 30 . That’s an incredible turnaround .
@Limón Madrugada: Maybe you could include Archer on that list as he seems to be first choice in Munster.
@Tom Reilly: but reliable for Ireland ?? I’m not convinced , he is capped though for sure ..
Someone on here yesterday said that Leinster made a ‘poor decision’ letting Marty Moore go.
I think the opposite, Marty Moore made a poor decision to leave Leinster.
When he left he was in the Irish 23, primed to replace Ross. He moved to Wasps and ended up not even starting for them. He also looked unfit.
In that time Leinster developed Furlong and Porter, Ireland brought in Bealham and Ryan and a few years later he’s back fighting for 3rd/4th in the Irish pecking order.
A shame because he is some prop on his day. Possibly a better scrummager than any of the above.
@Oval Digest: The word was that Moore was excited to play under Dai Young, a well capped Welsh and Lions prop. Maybe it was the 2 year deal offered by Leinster vs the 3 year Wasps deal (undoubtedly for more money) that was the real reason. Or maybe he saw Tadgh Furlong coming through and thought now’s the time to cash in. Or perhaps he thought Leinster are not gonna be challenging any more. If it was the Young factor that helped him go, the renowned Young had no impact on him other than gaining weight. The move might have been good for his bank balance but it was a disaster for his career. Thus far. Still, a big season and he could play his way in.
@grandslamkbo The word was also that Moore signed a contract without realising that he couldn’t get out of it in an effort to bargain with the IRFU, and then got stuck.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/leinster-admit-defeat-in-bid-to-retain-marty-moore-s-services-1.2510136
Marty is good on his day when fit, the problem is there just isn’t enough of those days.
He will have to buck up his ideas if he is to have a sniff of being anywhere near the Irish squad.
Yes squad not team
His whole career and how people will view his achievements relies on his application for the next two years
Be interesting to see how Nathan Hughes goes this season, he should be pushing for a place in the English team.
@Ruairi O’Bric: He is a super club player but I’m not sure about his workrate apart from ball carrying. If Billy V stays fits there’s no comparison…
Looked very unfit at Wasps as when he was playing previously for Leinster he had great mobility/work-rate and could force a few turnovers too.
He was overweight when he last played for Leinster and Ireland and things have only gotten worse since, needs to go on a serious shred if he is to make Ireland contention again.