FIFA and the AFC created a joint bank account to allow the football family to pool the donations collected by all, from associations and confederations to clubs and partners, in order to help those associations affected by the tsunami. The FIFA/AFC Tsunami Solidarity Fund was launched on the basis of immediate donations of US $2 million and US $1 million from FIFA and the AFC respectively. UEFA pledged US $1 million soon afterwards and thanks to various other donations from across the world as well as the 'Football for Hope' solidarity match in Barcelona, the total raised ultimately reached US $10.55 million. Check out how this money was used in the countries affected by this disaster.

SRI LANKA

Situation after the Tsunami

  • More than 40,000 people dead and more than 1,000,000 displaced
  • Almost all regions affected
  • Officials and players' private homes wiped out
  • More than 1,000 youth camps destroyed
  • Playgrounds, Club Houses and the FFSL Regional Administration Centre destroyed
  • Clubs having lost all their equipment

What has been done

  • The FA and FIFA Development Office in Colombo set up an independent Football Tsunami Relief Fund that was later integrated into the FIFA/AFC Tsunami Solidarity Fund, with employees sacrificing a month's salary. Other football leagues not affected and the referees association also made a contribution. The total amount of money raised through the FFSL Fund reached US $42,396.78
  • On the 1 January 2005, all FFSL and FIFA Development Office staff travelled to the affected areas in Kalutara to distribute lunch packages and footballs, also organising football activities with the girls and boys
  • FFSL visited all affected zones including the Tamil regions and distributed 1,000 balls, 300 t-shirts and 600 caps, dry rations, footballs, sleeping mats, clothing, medicines and other essential items
  • Doctors attached to FFSL offered free medical assistance.
  • A medical camp was set up by FFSL and volunteer FFSL doctors in Batticoloa, where they treated more than 300 patients
  • Seventeen projects were proposed by FFSL and approved by FIFA with a grant of US $3.5 million
  • One project was completed, with others in progress
  • FIFA and AFC Presidents visited Sri Lanka on 3 April 2006 for a solidarity visit and to inspect the projects
  • Football for Hope clinics also conducted in the Tsunami-affected areas

MALDIVES

Situation after Tsunami

  • The ground floor of the Goal Project headquarters was flooded, with furniture damaged and sports equipment lost
  • The artificial turf pitch was damaged and displaced
  • Ground used for the association's youth programmes was left unusable
  • Football pitches belonging to clubs on the surrounding islands were left destroyed

What has been done

  • The Football Association of Maldives (FAM) has deployed football players and official to clean up the debris and repair training grounds, but also to help other affected victims of the Tsunami
  • A total of 300 balls have been given for distribution
  • Damaged office equipment has been replaced
  • Artificial turf pitches have been cleaned and restored
  • Flooring at the FAM HQ relaid
  • Damaged fitness equipment replaced

INDONESIA

Situation after Tsunami

  • The Harapan Bangsa stadium, which is the biggest in the region, had been converted into a hospital by foreign relief workers and the pitch therefore left badly damaged. There was also damage to the stadium's walls and tribune.
  • The Indonesian FA announced that five of its club players had perished and many more officials, players and referees had still to be traced
  • Many stadiums, playing fields and football equipment were wiped out, with the pitch of the mini stadium of the Persjia Club used as a parking space for military vehicles

What has been done

  • On February 28 of 2005, the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) organised a charity dinner with an auction and charity football match, played between an Indonesian All-Star Team and an International Legends XI comprising former stars from South America and Europe. The total sum collected was US $40,000. All proceed were devoted to the education of children in Aceh
  • FIFA contacted various humanitarian organisations about supplying footballs for the displacement camps and orphanages could be useful
  • A visit was organised to the Mata La refugee camp, home to around 300 families, where FIFA handed out balls to children.
  • A total of 4500 balls were given to the PSSI for their development activities
  • A total of 1000 t-shirts were distributed
  • Football pitch maintenance equipment was distributed
  • A seminar for groundskeepers was organised
  • Football clinics, courses and competitions were organised

THAILAND

Situation after Tsunami

  • Five southern provinces with a total population of 1.9 million had been hit. Phuket was declared an emergency area.
  • One training field damaged in Phuket
  • Several school and football facilities in the schools had also been damaged

What has been done

  • The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) donated US $25,000 to relieve the hardship and also another US $5,000 to the family of a woman international who lost her life in the tsunami
  • FIFA also donated $25,000 USD to the family of the deceased player. The amount will be deducted from FIFA's share of the joint FIFA/AFC Tsunami relief fund
  • A total of 500 balls were distributed
  • Jerseys and football equipment were donated