Villa To Play In China?

Aston Villa have agreed to take part in an end of season, four-team tournament in China - providing the current medical scare affecting South East Asia has abated.

The tournament, also involving Everton, is by no means certain to go ahead because of the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak.

If Villa and Everton are given assurances, they will play in the Kejian Cup tournament in Shenzhen, alongside two local sides.

Operations Director Steve Stride said: ˇ§We are scheduled to play two matches on May 23rd and May 25th, but that will clearly be dependent upon assurances surrounding the medical scare currently affecting that part of the world.

ˇ§The organisers are obviously confident the tournament will go ahead after announcing details in China, but, both ourselves and Everton will obviously be considering the welfare of the travelling party.

ˇ§The tournament provides us with a tremendous opportunity to take the name of Aston Villa into China but we shall be watching the situation very closely in the next few weeks.ˇ¨

If the tournament goes ahead, Villa will play Shenzhen on May 23rd, before facing Shandong two days later. They will not face Everton in a tournament that will be decided on a league basis.