Leeds United announced a football tour in Myanmar, despite the military crackdown in the country and the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.

Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has business interests, with his company Eleven Sports, in sports media firms operating in Asian countries like Myanmar.

The matches are sponsored AYA bank implicated in the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims and owned by Zaw Zaw, who is blacklisted by the US for being linked to Myanmar’s military regime.

We see sporting events used by authoritarian regimes as cheap PR stunts to cover for their record of human rights abuses too often. In this case, it is a well known fact that Myanmar’s govt is engaged in genocide.

*ACT NOW*

Complain to Leeds United FC. Demand they cancel their tour and not put profit above humanity.

1)  Tweet
2) Post on their Facebook page
3) Phone – 0871 334 1919
4) Email- slocomplaints@leedsunited.com

25/04/18, 17:00 UPDATE: –

Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords, Lord Newby, who is also a Leeds United fan, said: “I’m appalled that Leeds United are giving the regime in Burma credibility by visiting the country.”

Labour MP for Leeds East and Shadow Justice Secretary, Richard Burgon, released the following statement on Twitter:  “As a Leeds United supporter, I believe @LUFC should not be touring Burma / Myanmar, where Rohingya Muslims are suffering genocide at the hands of the state. Radrizzani should call it off.”

26/04/18, 11:30 UPDATE:-

Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North East tweeted: “Leeds United must cancel this planned tour of Myanmar immediately. The genocide and suffering of the #Rohingya Muslims is a not only an extremely serious breach of international law, but a crime against humanity. I urge @andrearadri to call this off.”

26/04/18, 17:30 UPDATE:- 

Kaiser Chief band member and Leeds United fan, Simon Kaiser, demanded that Leeds United chairman Andrea Radrizzani reverse his decision and not “legitimise the Myanmar regime”

Conservative MEP for Yorkshire and Humber, Amjad Bashir, tweeted: “I have personally delivered a letter to Angus Kinnear, MD of Leeds United, asking for a meeting with him to discuss the Myanmar matches that the club have proposed.”

27/04/18 , 17:00 UPDATE:-

All 5 MPs that represent the city of Leeds call on Leeds United to cancel their tour in Myanmar.

01/05/18, 14:00 UPDATE:-

Petition made by Leeds United Fan surpasses 20,000 signatures.

11/05/18, 16:00 CLOSE: Leeds United FC made to pay heavy price for Myanmar tour

Since our campaign, we have seen 5 Leeds MPs jointly condemn Leeds United FC and demanded they cancel their tour. This included 2 Shadow Ministers. A Shadow Minister for Sport, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan and Regional MEP, Amjad Bashir also publicly condemned Leeds United.

The campaign attracted national outrage in, not just sports outlets such as BBC News and Joe.co.uk, but also the wider local and national press. International outlets are still reporting on this story, negatively affecting the club’s image.

Bradford’s strong Rohingya community came out condemn Leeds United too.

The campaign attracted a petition of over 22K and thousands of Leeds United fans now decided not to support the club or consider the tour a PR disaster.

The campaign created so much noise, that despite their unwillingness to go ahead with the tour, any football club that is thinking of going to Myanmar will know about this campaign and will be deterred in making such a move.

At the same time, we did not see the same level of outrage from the local Muslim organisations in Leeds, who could have put alot of pressure on their local football club. Very few local Mosques and organisations protested, demonstrations or published public letters condemning Leeds United for their tour.

Jazak’Allah to all those who supported the campaign and made the tour such a PR disaster for Leeds United, deterring others who might consider links with Myanmar