Barcelona vice president addresses canceled pre-season game in Japan – ‘They did not respect the club’ | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have officially pulled out of their pre-season trip to Japan, cancelling their scheduled friendly against Vissel Kobe.

The decision came as a surprise just hours after Marcus Rashford’s presentation as a new Barça player, and it has stirred quite the reaction within the club and the media.

According to a statement quoted by Jijantes, Barcelona’s vice president did not mince words: “We are working to go to Korea. We are not going to Japan because they have not respected the club; we defend the club’s interests.”

The cancellation follows what the club described as a “serious breach of contract” from the Japanese organisers.

For several days, there had been uncertainty surrounding the final squad list for the Asian tour. But few expected Barcelona to make such a strong move so close to the match date.

Players were caught off guard

The squad was among the first to feel the impact. Just minutes after Rashford’s unveiling at the club, players reportedly received messages on their phones informing them that the Japan leg of the tour was suspended.

Barcelona cancelled their pre-season match in Japan. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

The messages also clarified that, for now, only the friendlies scheduled in South Korea remain on the table.

Rather than heading to Asia, a flight which was scheduled on the morning of July 24, the players were instructed to return to the Ciutat Esportiva for double training sessions, something that manager Hansi Flick will quietly welcome.

The German coach now gets extra time on the training ground to instil his tactics and build chemistry within the squad, particularly with new additions like Rashford.

While the fallout from the Japanese cancellation may lead to some diplomatic and financial tensions, the situation has given Barcelona an unexpected boost in preparation time.

With fixtures still planned in Korea, the club is now working to ensure the remainder of their tour stays on track.