UNITED HOPE FOR RETURN TO INDONESIA

Maurince

17 Jul 09, 13:21

JAKARTA - MANCHESTER United's first visit to Indonesia has been thrown into turmoil after a bomb exploded on Friday at the hotel they were due to stay in next week.

Sir Alex Ferguson's team of multi-millionaire superstars are due in Jakarta on Sunday for a match against an Indonesian X1 at the sold-out 100,000-capacity Bung Karno Stadium on Monday and were booked into the Ritz-Carlton.

But the hotel, along with the Marriott, was hit by explosions that have left at least nine people dead and 41 injured, many of them foreigners, police said.

United arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Friday morning for the first leg of their pre-season Asian tour that also includes matches in South Korea and China and they have a press conference scheduled for later in the day.

A spokesman for the Indonesian organizers, Souraiya Farina, told AFP they had not had any information yet from the team on whether they would cancel their visit.

'We have had no confirmation of what they might be doing and noone has indicated to us that they will cancel their visit,' she said.

'They may move to another hotel,' she added, citing the Pacific Hotel as an alternative.

omgukilledkenny

17 Jul 09, 13:24

oh man..

Maurince

17 Jul 09, 13:29

Get them detour to Singapore loh..

Haahaa..

dinky1409

17 Jul 09, 14:18

Originally posted by Maurince:

Get them detour to Singapore loh..

Haahaa..

oh my! i wish hehe

chrisbenoit

17 Jul 09, 14:22

NASI BABI

dinky1409

17 Jul 09, 14:31

you tell me if this is not blatant provocation..

omgukilledkenny

17 Jul 09, 14:37

Reds cancel Indonesia visit

Following the explosions in Jakarta – one of which was at the hotel the team were due to stay in – and based on advice received, the Directors have informed the Indonesian FA that the Club cannot fulfil the fixture in Jakarta on the 2009 Asia tour.

We are working on a revised itinerary outside Indonesia with the promoters, and will make a further announcement when these decisions have been made.

We are deeply disappointed at not being able to visit Indonesia and thank the Indonesian FA and our fans for their support.

Our thoughts go to all those affected by the blasts.

dinky1409

17 Jul 09, 14:48

Originally posted by omgukilledkenny:

Reds cancel Indonesia visit

Following the explosions in Jakarta – one of which was at the hotel the team were due to stay in – and based on advice received, the Directors have informed the Indonesian FA that the Club cannot fulfil the fixture in Jakarta on the 2009 Asia tour.

We are working on a revised itinerary outside Indonesia with the promoters, and will make a further announcement when these decisions have been made.

We are deeply disappointed at not being able to visit Indonesia and thank the Indonesian FA and our fans for their support.

Our thoughts go to all those affected by the blasts.

yea.. RIP to the victims... =(

chrisbenoit

17 Jul 09, 14:54

NASI BABI

chrisbenoit

17 Jul 09, 14:55

NASI BABI

iceFatboy

17 Jul 09, 15:47

well, it was quite fortunate in a way tat it happened early. Anyway, let's hope the damage to the people in indonesia is minimal.

I felt pity that some will want to make an incident of such a tragic event,. Again it shows the narrowness of their hearts, and retardiness of their brains. Worse if they call it a joke, cause given how human lives were lost. Morons, go back to your hole, please.

iceFatboy

17 Jul 09, 15:50

Originally posted by dinky1409:

you tell me if this is not blatant provocation..

let's ignore the moron. Given the gravity of this event, it is just tasteless to condemn his moronic acts. Pity him..

chrisbenoit

17 Jul 09, 16:05

NASI BABI

marcteng

17 Jul 09, 16:13

Originally posted by iceFatboy:

let's ignore the moron. Given the gravity of this event, it is just tasteless to condemn his moronic acts. Pity him..

no worries, he will not play a fool here, I promise you that.

as you can see, he suffer from schizophrenia, multi personalities trapped in his body. pity him.

marcteng

17 Jul 09, 16:15

Originally posted by Maurince:

Get them detour to Singapore loh..

Haahaa..

good idea.

AEW5001

17 Jul 09, 16:22

hopefully their trip to m'sia is not affected.

marcteng

17 Jul 09, 16:22

Sir Alex Ferguson is shocked at the Jakarta bomb blasts that have forced Manchester United to cancel a friendly in the Indonesian capital.

The Red Devils boss said the attacks were "terrible news" and it was "very disappointing" that the club had to cancel the game against an Indonesian XI on Monday.

At least nine people have been killed and 50 injured in the attacks on two luxury hotels in Jakarta. The Foreign Office said it had no indication of any British casualties.

One of the attacks was on the Ritz-Carlton, where United had been due to stay for four nights from Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday morning in Kuala Lumpur, Ferguson said: "We got the news as we landed and it is very disappointing. I have never been to Indonesia before and I know the Indonesian FA have worked very hard on this.

"It is terrible news but we have taken what I believe to be the right decision in terms of safeguarding our players."

United's chief executive David Gill said: "We have taken the appropriate advice. We have met with the British High Commission who are highly experienced in these matters.

"It is not a decision we have taken lightly."

Gill was asked if advice about potential trouble was given to the club prior to the start of the pre-season trip to the Far East.

Gill said: "We were aware of the situation but we spoke to the right people and received the correct advice."

marcteng

17 Jul 09, 16:23