Man United to play in Malaysia after Asian Cup

Tourism Malaysia has agreed to host one game in Manchester United's summer tour but only after the 2007 Asian Cup. Earlier the Asian Football Confederation feared that the English Premier League side visit would overshadow their flagship tournament, the Asian Cup. Tourism Malaysia is one of the sponsors of the Manchester United Far East tour and co-hosts of the AFC Asian Cup 2007, which runs through 7-29 July. One of the semi-finals will be held in Kuala Lumpur.

"If Manchester United come, they will be coming after the AFC Asian Cup. It will not affect the AFC Asian Cup in any way," Tourism Malaysia director general Mirza Mohammad Taiyab told media. "We are really happy to host one of Asia's and indeed the world's biggest football competitions. And what is more important is that it is coinciding with our Visit Malaysia 2007 campaign and the 50th anniversary of our independence," he said. Tourism is Malaysia's second-largest foreign exchange earner. Officials are targeting 20.1 million visitors for 2007.