Barcelona to stage Tsunami fixture
LONDON, England -- The "Football for Hope" benefit match to help victims of the Asian tsunami will be played at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium on February 15.
FIFA and UEFA revealed that one side would be led by World Player 2004 Ronaldinho, the other by European Footballer of the Year 2004 Andriy Shevchenko, with the other players involved to be named in due course.
The Brazilian's team will be jointly-coached by Brazil's World Cup winning-coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard.
Juventus coach Marcello Lippi and Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger will take charge of the Ukrainian striker's line-up.
All proceeds from the match will be donated to the FIFA/AFC Tsunami Solidarity Fund, which has been set up jointly by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.
"Just like the rest of the international community, the worldwide football family is determined to do everything possible to help the individuals and football associations that have been so severely affected by the terrible tsunami tragedy," said FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
UEFA has pledged $1 million to the solidarity fund and the same amount to the Red Cross.
Football associations in India, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand are all actively involved in efforts to provide aid for victims and support for the reconstruction of key installations.
FIFA has also started to distribute equipment and clothing, including footballs, T-shirts and caps.
