Australia to play Indonesia in tsunami relief match

Australia to play Indonesia in tsunami relief match

Agence France-Presse, Sydney, Australia

Australia will play Indonesia in a soccer friendly in March
with the proceeds going to the victims of the Asian tsunami
disaster, the Football Federation Australia said.

The FFA said in a statement late Friday the match would take
place in Perth on March 29.

"The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nominated Indonesia
for this match and we are delighted to accept," FFA chief
executive John O'Neill said in the statement.

"Indonesia was heavily affected by the (Dec. 26) tsunami.
There was a huge loss of life and we are pleased that we can
follow the lead of the federal government by supporting our
neighbors," he said.

"Perth was seen as the ideal choice to host the match
considering their close proximity to Indonesia."

Australia will now have two home matches during the Easter
period with an international against Iraq in Sydney on March 26
followed by the game with Indonesia three days later.

"The two matches over the Easter period give us further
chances to engage with our Asian neighbors," O'Neill said.

O'Neill said the funds from the Indonesia match would go into
the FIFA/AFC solidarity fund which was established just after the
disaster.

Australia (ranked 58th) has played Indonesia (ranked 91st) 12
times with the Australians winning nine times with two draws and
a loss.