Leeds United under fire after announcing tour to Myanmar, where 'crimes against humanity' are ongoing

The Yorkshire club's latest publicity own goal will see them head to Asia for two friendlies in May

Leeds are planning a post-season trip to Myanmar (Getty)

Leeds are planning a pre-season tour of Myanmar despite Foreign Office travel warnings being in place for various parts of the country and Human Rights Watch warning of "crimes against humanity" being ongoing.

A Leeds spokesman has said that the club is liaising with the Foreign Office and will avoid any areas of conflict.

The Championship club are scheduled to play an All-Star XI in Yangon on May 9 and then Myanmar's national team in Mandalay on May 11 - both cities which fall outside areas which the Foreign Office has advised should be avoided.

But there remains a question over whether one of England's best-known clubs should be making such a trip.

Further advice and travel details will be released for Leeds supporters, the club said in a statement.

Two companies owned by Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani, Aser and Eleven Sports, have business partnerships in the region and there are expected to be commercial benefits from the tour.

Leeds will be holding football clinics with the Myanmar Football Federation Academies in Yangon and Mandalay.

Violent clashes between Myanmar's government troops and militants are ongoing in several areas of the country.

Myanmar's governing regime has been accused of ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims, while insurgent attacks on police and army bases last summer killed 70 people.

Human Rights Watch's overview of Myanmar paints a concerning picture of the south-east Asian nation.

"Burma’s stalled democratic transition has given way to a massive human rights and humanitarian crisis," they say.

"Since August 2017, the military has committed mass killings, sexual violence, and widespread arson against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State that amount to crimes against humanity, forcing several hundred thousand to flee to Bangladesh. Armed conflict between the military and ethnic armed groups in northern Burma has intensified, causing mass displacement.

"Under Aung San Suu Kyi’s de facto leadership, prosecutions of journalists, activists, and critics have increased. The military remains the country’s most powerful institution, with control of key ministries and autonomy from civilian oversight."