FC Barcelona: Major uncertainty hangs over South Korea tour | OneFootball

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FC Barcelona is set to miss out on its Asian tour this summer.

In recent hours, FC Barcelona has been forced to rethink its pre-season plans after the cancellation of its friendly against Vissel Kobe in Japan. Originally scheduled for Thursday, July 24, Barça’s flight to the archipelago was ultimately grounded. This, due to a double setback of significant magnitude.

First, the club terminated its contract with the Japanese promoter, which led to the outright cancellation of the first leg of the Asian tour. Second, according to journalist Víctor Navarro, the flight scheduled for Thursday evening was canceled: due to a lack of runway space, the team's plane was not cleared for takeoff. This happened despite a last-ditch effort by Rakuten, the club’s long-time sponsor, who had offered to cover all travel expenses.

All this comes as a major blow to Hansi Flick’s staff, who were set to face Vissel Kobe this Sunday, July 27. In a statement yesterday, the club expressed regret over the situation and “the impact on Barça’s large supporter community in Japan.” To make up for the setback, club officials are reportedly considering organizing a friendly match in Barcelona this weekend, according to Sport.