Football: FIFA Tsunami fund

FIFA has pledged $2.6million to help rebuild the footballing infrastructure in Asian countries hit by last week's devastating tsunami.

The world governing body said that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had also pledged $1 million, meaning a "solidarity fund" of $3million.

The football associations that will qualify for the aid are those in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The funds will be used to "donate football equipment (balls, shirts, boots, goals, etc) to these associations or their members."

FIFA added that it would be working with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) "to evaluate the situation in the African countries... also affected by the disaster".

Associated Press