AFC, Man United impasse continues

The Asian Football Confederation AFC has urged the newly crowned Premier League champions to postpone their four-country Asian tour over fears it will detract from the finals of the July 7-29 AFC Asian Cup.

8220;We have presented our case to Manchester United and fully explained our position8230; We have made the request and we shall await the response,8221; AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam said in a written statement.

It was issued after Hammam met with Manchester United chief executive David Gill and Premier League chairman Dave Richards for more than two hours.

The two English sporting officials left the AFC office in their Jaguar without talking to reporters.

Hammam said that the AFC has 8220;not left any stone unturned to seek a solution amicably, and we very much hope that we can all seek a compromise to protect the interest of the AFC Asian Cup 2007.8221;