The soccer club Myanmar's Shan United FC was to play against Sydney's Macarthur FC on November 30 at the AFC Cup, a secondary Asian tournament organized by the Asian Football Federation. A few days before the match, they were informed that their players and staff would not be allowed to enter Australia.
Although neither the Australian Department of Home Affairs nor Football Australia have provided an official reason for the refusal, human rights groups have in the past highlighted Shan United's links with the Burmese army, which seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021, leading to a protracted civil war in the country.
Praise for the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M)
The decision was welcomed by Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M)a group of former United Nations human rights representatives. In their statement, they described the club owner as Khun Naung Myint as " a close associate with deep ties to the Burmese military junta ". The council said Australia's decision to ban Shan United FC was a small but positive step towards holding to account those who benefit from their association with Myanmar's criminal army.
They urged the Australian government to take more substantial action by imposing targeted financial sanctions on the junta, its generals and affiliated entities.
Prior to this meeting, over 400 human rights groups had sent an open letter to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wongcalling for tough sanctions against the junta.
Objections have descended from human rights groups regarding the Macarthur club's decision to play the first leg in September in Burma, in the Thuwunna Football Stadium of Yangon.
In order to avoid a forfeit penalty, Macarthur (the club of former Marseille player Valère Germain) had to play their "home" match away from home, in Bangkok, Thailand. The match ended in a 4-0 Australian victory.
An uncertain future for Burmese soccer on the international stage
Shan United FC's exclusion from the tournament in Australia highlights the wider issue of political and human rights implications of sport. While the situation in Myanmar remains unstable and tensions between the various players in the conflict persist, it is likely that other Burmese sports teams and events will face similar challenges in asserting themselves on the international stage as a result of these issues.
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