Fifa and AFC Create Solidarity Fund Following Tsunami Disaster

Zurich, 4 January 2005 - In the wake of the devastating natural disaster in South and South-East Asia, the FIFA Emergency Committee has decided to make USD 2 million available. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has itself pledged USD 1 million, a figure that brings the solidarity fund of FIFA and AFC to a total of USD 3 million.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter and AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam have agreed that these funds should be used to help the affected member associations (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand) as well as the local population of the stricken region.

As the international community has already raised such a substantial amount of money, FIFA has decided to concentrate on reconstructing the footballing infrastructure in the affected areas. The funds will be used to:

-Restore Goal projects;
-Restore other footballing infrastructure belonging to the associations, as well as other footballing infrastructure on their territories;
-Donate football equipment (balls, shirts, boots, goals, etc.) to these associations or their members.

Furthermore, FIFA and AFC will work together to coordinate support from the worldwide football family and try to centralise any donations from confederations and associations (e.g. takings from charity matches, donations of football equipment, etc.) as much as possible. FIFA and AFC will also call upon famous football personalities – primarily former players – to help with distribution efforts and solidarity movements in the affected region.

Once the initial emergency phase and efforts to save victims are over, FIFA and the AFC intend to organise matches in the region to demonstrate solidarity and support, in much the same way as the unforgettable match that the Brazilian football association organised in Haiti in August 2004 for the benefit of the local population.

FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will also be working together to evaluate the situation in the African countries (Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia and Tanzania) also affected by the disaster.

For further information please contact:

FIFA Media Department – Tel.: +41-43/222 7272 00, fax: +41-43 222 7373, e-mail: media@fifa.org