SYDNEY, May 29: Three-time world footballer of the year Zinedine Zidane has pulled out of his trip to Australia, forcing the cancellation of a weekend exhibition match here, organisers said Thursday.

Zidane was promoted to lead a team featuring his French 1998 World Cup-winning teammates, including Marcel Desailly and Robert Pires, against an Australian All-Stars team on Sunday.

But the 35-year-old football star pulled out of his Australian visit on Thursday, citing personal reasons, a spokeswoman for the event said.—AFP