5.8m-euro aid for Asian soccer

5.8m-euro aid for Asian soccer

PARIS: Asian soccer infrastructure devastated by the tsunamis on Dec. 26 last year will be improved by a 5.8-million-euro pay- out from the sport's world governing body, FIFA said in a statement on Wednesday.

FIFA's contribution to rebuilding after the disasters has now reached 8.3 million euros in total.

Of the 5.8-million-euro pay-out, Indonesia and Sri Lanka each received 1.9m, India and the Maldives got 765,000 each, Thailand got 383,000 and Bangladesh 76,000 euros, FIFA added.

Mohamed Bin Hammam, the Asian Football Confederation president and FIFA executive committee member said: "The money will be used for repairing the football infrastructure damaged or destroyed by the tsunamis." --AFP