Soccer-Barca cancel Japan pre-season friendly citing contractual breaches
The LaLiga champions were scheduled to play Japanese side Vissel Kobe on Sunday, while they are due to play South Korea's FC Seoul on July 31 and Daegu FC on August 4.
"Barcelona announces that it has been obliged to suspend its participation in the game scheduled for next Sunday in Japan due to serious contractual breaches on behalf of the promoter," Barca said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Nevertheless, the club will consider readjusting the leg of the summer tour in South Korea, where two games are scheduled against FC Seoul (31 July) and Daegu FC (4 August), if certain conditions are met by the promoter.
"If these conditions are met, then the club will travel to South Korea in the coming days. Barcelona regrets this incident and the impact it will have on the many, many Barca fans in Japan."
Vissel Kobe also issued a statement on Thursday.
"We sincerely apologise for any concern this may cause to the many fans and related parties who were looking forward to this match," the J1 League club said.
"Our club is working in collaboration with relevant parties to gather necessary information and take appropriate measures."
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Goa; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Bonmati crushed after Spain's shootout defeat by England
SPAIN playmaker Aitana Bonmati cut a disconsolate figure as she picked up her Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2025 on Sunday, minutes after her side finished as runners-up after losing a penalty shootout to England in the final. Bonmati bounced back from a meningitis scare ahead of the tournament to play a crucial role in Spain's progress to the final. However, on Sunday Spain struggled to unlock the England defence and Bonmati missed her spot-kick in the shootout as she slumped to another painful defeat following her club side Barcelona's Champions League final loss to Arsenal in May. 'It's hard to see you right now,' she told reporters. 'Two months ago I found myself in this situation with the club. You have to value more when things are going well, we have been better on the pitch, not on penalties,' she said. The 27-year-old apologised to the Spanish people for not being able to deliver a victory against an England side that was no match for them in terms of skill, but who refused to give up. 'I assume my part of my responsibility, I play for the team and for many more people. There is no point in playing a better game and missing penalties,' she said. 'For me, England is a team capable of not playing well and winning. There are teams that don't need much to win.' England took the chance they were offered and though Spain found themselves on the losing side, Bonmati was philosophical. 'We haven't lost a game (in 90 minutes), we have received support and I feel bad about that too. We have won off the field of play and that is valuable too,' she explained, before promising to come back stronger. 'We are a trained team, we have already shown that we know how to overcome. We hope to reach (Euro) 2029 at full capacity and try again.' - REUTERS
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Different horsepower for Horner as Red Bull enter new era
FORMER Red Bull team boss Christian Horner posted a video on social media of himself riding on horseback in the English countryside on the day of the Belgian Grand Prix. 'Different horse power this Sunday,' read the simple caption. Spa-Francorchamps marked the start of a new era for the former Formula One champions, the first race without Horner -- dismissed two weeks ago -- at the helm since Red Bull entered the sport in 2005. New boss Laurent Mekies started with a win, with Max Verstappen taking the Saturday sprint, and then a frustrating fourth place for the Dutch four-times world champion in the main Sunday grand prix. Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda failed to score for the sixth race in a row. Apart from expressing surprise at the long delay in getting the race started, due to heavy rain, Mekies avoided any polemic. He blamed the team for Tsunoda's blank, saying the Japanese had done a great job in qualifying but was called in too late for his pitstop in a mistake that cost him three or four positions. 'After two weeks at the factory, trying to meet as many people as possible, it was nice to also meet the race team,' said the Frenchman when asked to assess the weekend. 'To also enter into the race dynamics and see how the flows and the processes and preparation are. That was super-good in terms of getting to know the team. As you would imagine, it's a team where everything is done at the mega level.' Horner's absence was the talk of the paddock but by the time the circus regroups in Budapest next week, the conversation is likely to have moved on. 'I think Laurent is very good. The sport moves on quickly, so it probably won't be something that we're talking about come Monday,' McLaren boss Zak Brown told Sky Sports television. 'He (Horner) had fantastic results. It's a shame to kind of go out the way he did.' Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said earlier in the weekend that he would miss his old sparring partner and Netflix 'Drive to Survive' protagonist -- in a way -- and expected him to return sooner or later. 'I don't think he's gone forever. I think he's going to pop up in some kind of other function,' said the Austrian - REUTERS
New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Red Giants battle Asia Warriors to stalemate
PETALING JAYA: Selangor drew 0-0 against the Asia Warriors, led by Japanese legend, Keisuke Honda, in a friendly match at MBPJ Stadium today. The match also served as the unveiling of Selangor's 2025-2026 M-League squad. Among the fresh faces in the Red Giants' lineup were Willian Lira, Moses Raj, Picha Autra, Chrigor Moraes and Zach Clough. In the ninth minute, Selangor captain Faisal Halim nearly created a goal with a pinpoint cross to Lira who forced a save from Asia Warriors' veteran goalkeeper Made Wirawan. The 44-year-old Wirawan suffered a knee injury in the 12th minute, and was replaced by Yoo Jaehoon. Selangor's best chance came in the 55th minute when Sharul Nazeem Zulpakar, who replaced Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar at halftime, spun and unleashed a low shot, only to be denied by Yoo. Asia Warriors suffered another blow late in the game when Daisuke Sato was stretchered off in the 78th minute.
