Haiti’s distressed football fraternity is getting a much needed US$3 million boost from the world governing body, FIFA.FIFA made the announcement Thursday following a meeting in Zurich at which FIFA's finance committee discussed a detailed report from vice-president Jack Warner, who toured the earthquake ravished country last weekend.
The money will go to Haiti in the form of a Special Projects Fund.
The January 12 earthquake destroyed The Haiti Football Federation headquarters. Thirty members of the Federation, including nearly the entire executive, died in the devastating earthquake that killed an estimated 200,000 and left at least one million homeless.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said, "We will continue to evaluate the situation very closely with the Haitian Football Association and will do everything in our power to assist them in their hour of need."
FIFA gave Haiti US$250,000 immediately after the earthquake to help in the federation's recovery efforts. Warner donated US$100,000 of his personal money.
The Special Projects Fund will go towards the reconstruction of the football association’s headquarters, technical centres and regional youth facilities, and to buy basic football equipment for the federation’s leagues and youth competitions.
Commenting on the announcement from Zurich, Warner said: "I am extremely grateful for the progress of FIFA’s assistance towards Haiti and we as a family will continue to do whatever is necessary to help that country rise again."
"We in FIFA realize the importance of not only pledging our support but following through to ensure that the people of Haiti and the Haitian football family can have a better tomorrow," he said.
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