Stars ready to shine at Camp Nou
Friday, February 4, 2005
Article summary
Nearly 40 players have confirmed their participation in the FIFA/UEFA Football For Hope match.
Article body
Nearly 40 players have so far confirmed they will take part in the FIFA/UEFA Football For Hope match organised by the world and European football governing bodies in aid of the tsunami relief effort. The match will be played on Tuesday 15 February at Camp Nou in Barcelona (21.00 CET).
Stellar names
Players of the calibre of Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Raúl González, Paolo Maldini and Alessandro del Piero are among the stellar names taking part. The stars will be divided into two teams - one led by FC Barcelona's Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho, the other by AC Milan and Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko.
Football's response
In response to the tsunami disaster, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation have opened a solidarity fund. UEFA has contributed €1.5m to the relief aid effort - half of the amount to the solidarity fund and the other half to its charity partner, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to assist and support child victims.
Johansson's thanks
UEFA President Lennart Johansson has thanked the players for agreeing to participate in the match. "There was no discussion, [the players] are coming freely - this is a sign, they are doing so because they have understood what this match is all about," he told uefa.com.
Lessons to be learned
The UEFA President also spoke of the tsunami tragedy, and said he hoped that many lessons would be learned. "I was in Malaysia on holiday when it happened. I learned that 1,500 Swedes are still missing, so for me it was natural, when [FIFA President] Joseph Blatter called me, that we should help FIFA and Asia in their efforts, and that we should do something ourselves.
Help and responsibility
"This tragedy has also turned to something else," Mr Johansson continued. "People have come together, they have helped each other, they have understood that when Mother Nature talks, all of us are small. Perhaps we can learn something from the tragedy - how much we need each other, and how important it is to take responsibility for our neighbours."
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Ticket details
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Ticket prices
Category 1 – Tribuna/ Main stand (covered): €29
Category 2 – Lateral/ Stand opposite main stand: €22
Category 3 – Gol/ Stands behind goals (numbered seats): €15
Category 4 – S/Num/ Stands behind goals (non-numbered seats): €10
