Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar ( below ) described the venue change for the friendly match between FC Barcelona and Malaysia as an embarrassment to the country.

NONE "This is surely an embarrassment for the country's reputation and causes inconvenience to supporters who have already bought tickets," he said in a statement on Facebook today.

The match was changed from Bukit Jalil Stadium to Shah Alam Stadium at the eleventh hour after the visiting football team complained of poor pitch conditions.

Khairy said that he, too, had been displeased with the field's condition when he visited the venue last month.

The Rembau MP said that he had then ordered Bukit Jalil Stadium to be closed for six months beginning October for the field to be replaced.

"I did not ask Bukit Jalil Stadium to be closed earlier because organisers had already planned for a number of events including some concerts.

"The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had also decided to have the Malaysian Cup finals at Bukit Jalil Stadium," he said.

Elaborating on the match between Malaysia and FC Barcelona, Khairy said FAM was responsible for the selection of stadium.

"The organiser should have known about the condition of the field and my decision for the field to be replaced in October.

"The Malaysian Stadium Board has already held a meeting a few weeks ago to determine the tender procedure for the new field," he said.