Crystal Palace and West Ham United postpone Australia pre-season tour

The two sides were supposed to play in the inaugural Queensland Champions Cup alongside Brisbane Roar.

Premier League outfits Crystal Palace and West Ham United have been forced to postpone their visit to Australia for a pre-season tournament in July due to the suspended Premier League season and talks of an extension meaning the campaign could stretch well into the summer.

The two Premier League sides were scheduled to take part in the inaugural Queensland Champions Cup alongside A-League side Brisbane Roar, but that has now been postponed to 2021 with organizers hopeful it can take place when it’s safer to do so after the coronavirus pandemic settles down.

Brisbane Roar, who are coached by Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, were supposed to take on Palace on July 11 and West Ham on July 15, before the two Premier League sides clashed against each other on July 18.

West Ham boss David Moyes expressed his disappointment at not being able to make the tour but remains hopeful the tournament is rescheduled to a later date.

He said, “It is a real shame that we will no longer be able to make it over to Queensland this summer, however, it is the right decision to postpone given the circumstances.

“We hope the tournament can be rearranged at a later date once things are back to normal, and we look forward to visiting Australia in the future.”

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish also promised that his side will do everything to ensure they be able to play in Australia next summer.

He explained, “It is bitterly disappointing not to be able to make the club's landmark trip to Queensland this July for everyone here at the club.

“We will do everything we possibly can to try to rearrange the tour for 2021, once things become clear with the Premier League schedule for the remainder of this season, and next year's provisional timings too.”

Many clubs are being forced to shelf their pre-season plans due to the coronavirus pandemic restricting travel and strict lockdown measures being adopted by countries all over the world to fight against it. The Premier League is eying a date of June 6 for potentially restarting their season, but will wait for government orders before any chance of resuming games which will strictly be played behind closed doors for the remainder of the season.