Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani says Myanmar is ‘very close to my heart’ as he defends controversial trip

The Championship club have been urged to scrap the planned trip, which has been branded ‘morally corrupt’ by shadow sports minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan

Andrea Radrizzani has defended the club’s summer trip (Getty)

Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani has defended the club's controversial tour of Myanmar next month.

The Championship club have been urged to scrap the planned trip, which has been branded “morally corrupt” by shadow sports minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan.

But writing in an open letter to fans, Radrizzani said he had visited the country many times and that it was “somewhere very close to my heart”.

He added: “The club is not receiving any fee to play. Rather I see this both as a personal initiative to support local football and a way to introduce the name of Leeds United in the fastest growing country in Southeast Asia.

“I believe the tour will have a positive impact on the local community in parts of the country we intend to visit. This was a carefully considered decision and we knew it would be controversial, but this is about people not governments.

“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.”

PA