Manchester derby in Beijing cancelled due to pitch conditions

Organizers say the decision to call off Monday's match was made in the interests of player safety, and in conjunction with both clubs (Jon Super/AP)

BEIJING — The International Champions Cup match between Premier League rivals Manchester United and Manchester City has been cancelled after recent extreme weather made the playing surface at Beijing’s National Stadium unfit for play.

Organizers say the decision to call off Monday’s match was made in the interests of player safety, and in conjunction with both clubs, the China Football Association and management of the stadium, which was the main venue for the 2008 Olympics.

In a statement, International Champions Cup organizers said that "due to international travel schedules and planned sporting commitments, the match cancellation is definitive and the match will not be re-scheduled."

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