In a an expected announcement, Celtic have confirmed the cancellation of their much-anticipated pre-season tour of South Korea. The cancellation follows closely on the heels of Wolves’ withdrawal last week, causing a reshuffling of plans for the Hoops.

Celtic issued a public statement from their home ground, expressing deep regret over their forced decision to cancel the South Korean leg of the tour.

The Hoops were originally set to compete against English Premier League team, Wolves, later this month, but a series of setbacks related to the tour promoter’s inability to fulfil certain financial and logistical commitments has compelled the Scottish Champions to terminate the agreement and pull out of the tour.

There was palpable excitement in the team and amongst the fans as the Celtic players looked forward to visiting South Korea. The trip presented a great opportunity for South Korean fans to watch their beloved team in action on home soil. However, due to circumstances completely beyond the team’s control, they have been left with no choice but to back out from the match.

Brendan Rodgers, will instead lead his team to Japan, where they will play two matches against Yokohama F. Marinos (July 19) and Gamba Osaka (July 22). Following these matches, the Hoops will return to their training ground at Lennoxtown to continue their pre-season preparations.

The cancelled friendly with Wolves was also of interest as it would have witnessed a head-to-head competition between Celtic ace, Oh Hyeon-gyu, and his compatriot, Hwang Hee Chan.

Celtic had agreed to participate in the Korean leg of their broader Asian tour with Oh Hyeon-gyu in their team, further fuelled by the popularity of their former manager Ange Postecoglou in Japan.

The cancellation, hence, comes as a disappointment not only for the team but for their fans as well.