Champions Youth Cup off?

August’s Champions Youth Cup looks in serious doubt following conflict between the host country Malaysia’s Football Association (FAM) and the Asian Football Confederation. The FAM have had their nose put out of joint after the tournament organisers, Gifted Group, reached an agreement allowing the AFC to run the event, and have subsequently refused to sanction it. The FAM’s declaration that the tournament is too expensive to host for the minimal benefit it offers to domestic football in Malaysia also appears to be behind that decision.

Gifted claim that the FAM sanctioned the tournament for an initial three years (2007-2009), and if that is proven to be the case, the tournament may still go ahead as planned. The Malaysian Sports Ministry will come to a decision on the matter on Wednesday, and United will hope the outcome is positive, allowing them to return to the Far East for a key part of their pre-season programme and to defend their title.