Myanmar Football Controversy: Leeds United manager shrugs off criticism of team's Myanmar tour

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Europe

02:19

An English professional football team has found itself in a storm of controversy. Leeds United is being criticized for traveling to Myanmar for a two-game tour at a time when the military is facing accusations of ethnic cleansing. But not everyone thinks politics should play a role in sports. Dave Grunebaum has the story.

In the football loving country of Myanmar, there's excitement this week about the chance to watch English professional club Leeds United.

KYAW HTET AUNG YANGON, MYANMAR "It makes me proud and happy that such a famous team has come to play here in Myanmar."

DAVE GRUNEBAUM YANGON, MYANMAR "But the trip comes as Myanmar is engulfed in controversy due to the crisis in the country's western Rakhine State. Members of the United Kingdom's Parliament have said that Leeds United should not have made this trip."

Almost 700-thousand Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar for neighboring Bangladesh because of a military counter-insurgency campaign. The United Nations accuses the army in this Buddhist-majority country of ethnic cleansing, accusations the military denies. When asked about the controversial trip, Leeds United's manager responded:

PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM LEEDS UNITED MANAGER "Yeah we were just here for the football that was it. Just here for the football."

The team's Italian owner who has business interests in the region released an open letter saying: 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.

He also said: It has never been my intention, nor that of the club, to get involved in a political debate in Myanmar.

But human rights groups call that a cop-out.

DAVID BAULK FORTIFY RIGHTS "Well, Leeds United commands a legion of supporters across the world and they're a global brand and whether they like it or not they have a responsibility to use that brand and use that leverage to inform the public about what's going on in Myanmar. If they stay silent on that than there's a question of complicity into what's going on here."

Leeds United fans who made the trip from England have divided opinions.

SIMON GILBERT OXFORD, ENGLAND "Under the current circumstances what's going on here it was morally dubious to come here."

ALLAN CALVERLEY LEEDS, ENGLAND "Hopefully politics and football shouldn't mix."

And while Leeds United's athletes play the games, the headlines about this trip are focused on what is and what's not happening off the field. Dave Grunebaum, CGTN, Yangon, Myanmar.