Manchester United Football Club News

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United cancel Jakarta game

17 Jul 2009 - 07:40:44

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Manchester United's four-match tour to the Far East has been thrown into disarray after bomb blasts in Indonesia forced the cancellation of one of the games.

United arrived in Kuala Lumpur overnight ahead of their match against a Malaysia XI on Saturday.

However, explosions in Jakarta which have killed at least nine people have forced the club to cancel Monday's encounter with an Indonesia All Star side.

One of the hotels targeted - the Ritz-Carlton - was where the touring party were due to stay on Sunday and Monday night.

"Following the explosions in Jakarta - one of which was at the hotel the team were due to stay in - and based on advice received, the directors have informed the Indonesian FA that the club cannot fulfil the fixture in Jakarta on the 2009 Asia tour," read a club statement.

The Premier League champions are also scheduled to play two more friendlies in South Korea and China and the club has confirmed that discussions are currently taking place about potential changes to the tour.

The game in Indonesia had been a 100,000 sell-out.

"We are working on a revised itinerary outside Indonesia with the promoters and we will make a further announcement when these decisions have been made," the statement added.

"We are deeply disappointed at not being able to visit Indonesia and thank the Indonesian FA and our fans for their support. Our thoughts go to all those affected by the blasts."