United Malaysia game gets go-ahead

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Manchester United's controversial pre-season match in Malaysia is set to go ahead in defiance of world governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The Malaysian national football association (FAM) said on Monday that they will sanction the July 27 match which clashes with the Asian Cup, the region's flagship tournament being held in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The friendly between United and a Malaysian select team in Kuala Lumpur would take place only two days before the AFC's Asian Cup final in Jakarta.

"If the government says go, we go," said Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Sha, the deputy president of the FAM.

A government approval is unlikely to pose a problem since Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has already said he wants the match to go ahead as part of the celebrations for Malaysia's 50th anniversary of independence.

Tengku Abdullah, who is also the vice president of AFC, said "we know there will be consequences" of hosting Manchester United, adding that AFC might sack him or suspend the FAM.

"I might be out of a job," he said with a smile. "As you know we are very much in a tight spot right now ... but let's celebrate (Malaysia's independence) first."

The decision completes an abrupt about-face by the FAM and by Tengku Abdullah, who last Tuesday clamed that the Asia Cup would have to take precedence over the Manchester United match, and urged the Premier League champions to "rearrange their schedule."

AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam has said that United's planned tour -- which also includes Japan, South Korea and Macau -- is "immoral," as it would compete with the 16-nation Asian Cup for spectator interest, television viewers and ticket sales.

United with stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs are a massive draw in Asia, but the FAM said it will not be involved in any promotional or marketing activities for the club during their visit to Kuala Lumpur.

Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

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