Reds abandon Japan tour
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-17 11:07

Liverpool have cancelled their pre-season tour of Japan due to their involvement in the Champions League qualifying rounds.

The European champions had planned to travel to the Far East next month but with their first competitive match now due to take place on July 12 or 13, they have had to scrap the tour.

"We've explored ways to fulfil our commitment but had to cancel," chief executive Rick Parry told the club's official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.

"We would like to express our sincere regret to all Japanese fans who would have enjoyed seeing the matches. We look forward to being able to visit Japan as soon as possible."

Liverpool had failed to qualify for the Champions League next season after finishing outside the top four in the Barclays Premiership but UEFA offered them a place as holders.

But the governing body were not prepared to disadvantage any other clubs that already qualified and insisted they would have to play through the whole competition. The Reds had hoped they would be inserted at at least the third qualifying round stage in August.

With the first round beginning in just four weeks time, the club will now have little time for pre-season friendlies.

The Japan trip, which featured fixtures against Shimuzu S-Pulse and Kashima Antlers and had been seen as an important money-spinner, has become the first casualty. The dates arranged for those matches - July 27 and 30 - would have clashed with the second qualifying round.

The club also have pre-season friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and Cologne on July 16 and 22 respectively.

Liverpool's European success means the club will still travel to Japan this year however after being invited by FIFA to play in the World Club Championship in December.

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