Leeds United have denied supporting the Myanmar regime amid criticism of the club's announcement of a post-season tour to the southeast Asian country.
The Yorkshire side have been accused of "assisting a brutal regime" – with Amnesty International warning the trip could be used to "sportswash" the country's human rights record.
Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been condemned across the world following violence in its Rakhine state, where the United Nations fears a "textbook example" of ethnic cleansing has been carried out by the military against Rohingya Muslims.
More than 600,000 Rohingya are believed to have fled the western region into neighbouring Bangladesh, with Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi facing calls to be stripped of her Nobel Peace Prize.
On Tuesday, Leeds United revealed they will be playing two friendly games in Myanmar next month – one against the national side and another against an "all-star" team – following the end of their domestic season.
However, the announcement on the club's website included no reference to the current political and humanitarian situation in Myanmar – prompting criticism from politicians, rights groups and fans.
Labour MP and Leeds United supporter John Mann told the Yorkshire Post: "They should be sorting out new signings rather than flying to conflict zones and assisting a brutal regime."
Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, also expressed concern about the club's "odd choice of country" and called on Leeds United to use the trip to demand an end to human rights abuses in Myanmar.
She said: "Far too often sporting events have been used as a cheap PR tool to 'sportswash' the stain of a country's human rights record.
"We're not going to tell Leeds United where they should and shouldn't visit.
"But, if the tour does go ahead, the club should use its leverage to call for an end to the crackdown and raise with the Burmese authorities the plight of the hundreds of thousands of families who have been brutalised and forced to flee their homes."
Leeds United Supporters' Trust spoke of "discontent" among the club's fans about the post-season tour, which has brought "ethical questions" and also "understandable concerns" about the safety of supporters who might choose to travel to the country for the tour.
The Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to some parts of Myanmar, with Britons warned to "avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings" as "political tension and unrest could happen at short notice".
Leeds United have said more information on travelling to Myanmar will be released shortly and told supporters to wait for further advice.
The Trust said it found the tour "a strange and controversial choice, given the dangerous political climate Myanmar currently finds itself in", although it welcomed reassurances from the club on supporter safety.
Sky News understands Leeds United, who are currently twelth in the second-tier Championship, will not be gaining any commercial revenue from the trip and will be working with local communities during the visit.
The club's managing director Angus Kinnear said: "Myanmar is one of the fastest growing nations in southeast Asia and is passionate about English football.
"They have ambitious goals for grassroots and elite football development that we are delighted to be able to support.
"This tour gives us an opportunity to meet new fans of football who will hopefully support our journey back to the Premier League in the coming years."
In response to the criticism of the Myanmar tour, a Leeds United spokesman said: "Leeds United are not supporting any regime or government.
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"We have worked with the football league in Myanmar as well as the AYA Bank in making the arrangements for the games.
"We firmly believe that football brings people together and we aim to engage millions of young football supporters and thousands of players who share a love of the game."
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