Everton's tour of China off
Everton have been forced to cancel their post-season tour of China due to concerns over the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in the region.
Goodison Park officials have spent the past two weeks monitoring the spread of the potentially fatal virus and today opted to pull the plug on the trip.
David Moyes' men were scheduled to spend time in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, but have followed Foreign Office advice and cancelled the tour.
Everton's head of corporate affairs and PR Ian Ross told the club's official website: "Sadly, we have to announce that the club's proposed trip to China has been cancelled.
"The simple truth is that we could not take the risk of exposing anyone - be they players, officials or supporters - to the possibility of infection by the SARS virus.
"We have taken expert advice on a daily basis over the past fortnight and we have now been advised not to travel to the Far East at this point in time.
"The club doctor has spoken at length with the relevant authorities both in the United Kingdom and in China.
"There is an understandable degree of disappointment inside the club because this particular trip had been long in the planning and was eagerly anticipated.
"As a consequence of our sponsorship deal with Kejian, our profile in China is exceedingly high. It would, I suspect, have been an illuminating and successful trip.
"However, our first responsibility is to our supporters and to our players - we just cannot compromise where safety is concerned. It is bitterly disappointing but the health of those who work for this club and who play football for this club must come first."