An audacious plan by Football Federation Australia to bring Manchester United to Australia next week has failed.
United were due to play an Indonesian Super League XI on Monday but were forced to cancel the game following Friday’s terrorist strike in Jakarta.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were booked in at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, in Jakarta, which along with the JW Marriott, were attacked by the bombers.
Following the postponement of the game, the FFA approached United with an offer to stage a last-minute fixture in either Sydney or Melbourne against A-League champions Melbourne Victory or Sydney FC.
However, logistical issues have put paid to the plan with United chief executive David Gill revealing on the club’s website the team wanted to remain in Kuala Lumpar, where they are playing on Saturday against a Malaysian XI.
Although the approach from the FFA was discussed by both parties, the English giants’ desire to return to Malaysia straight after the fixture was not seen as a feasible option.
“We were planning to pull out all the stops for it to happen as it would have been an attractive fixture for fans and for Sydney FC or Melbourne,” FFA Director of Communications Bonita Mersiades told AAP.
“However, their commitments meant the game could only be played on Monday, which we were willing to organise, but there was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing on their side so unfortunately it wasn’t possible.”
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Former Premier League striker turned pundit Michael Bridges has launched a staggering attack on Manchester United manager Eric ten Hag in the wake of…
A referee wore a camera for the first time in an English Premier League match as Crystal Palace beat up Manchester United 4-0. Footage…
Manchester United have survived one of the most astonishing FA Cup semi-final comebacks to beat second-tier Coventry City 4-2 on penalties after a chaotic…
Erik ten Hag hopes Manchester United's nail-biting last-eight win over arch-rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup can prove the turning point in a challenging…
Phil Foden has led Manchester City's fightback - even despite an astonishing miss by Erling Haaland - as the champions beat Manchester United 3-1…
Arsenal remain just two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after trouncing Newcastle 4-1 to continue their rich vein of form. Rebounding quickly from…
