Zurich, Jan 16, 2014: Legendary six-time World Referee winner, Pierluigi Collina, and international football players Deco, Pavel Nedved, Roberto Carlos, Fernando Hierro, are among the personalities that have confirmed they will join Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane at the 11th Annual Match Against Poverty taking place on 4 March at the STADE DE SUISSE National Stadium in Bern, Switzerland.
Proceeds from the Match will support recovery efforts in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms on record, that struck the Philippines on 8 November.
Presiding over the match for the ninth time will be legendary referee Pierluigi Collina. “It always inspires me when a game is more than a game” said Collina. “The 11th Match Against Poverty will not only score goals for the players but also for the people of the Philippines – It is an honor for me to referee this match”.
UNDP will receive two thirds of the match proceeds which will be used to bolster recovery efforts in the Philippines, where more than 5,000 people lost their lives to Typhoon Haiyan, and an estimated 11.8 million people are affected and 995,000 people remain displaced. BSC Young Boys will donate the remaining third of the profits to the club’s partner charity, the Laureus Foundation Switzerland, to support sports-related projects.
The first list of players confirmed in the Ronaldo, Zidane & Friends team is: Ronald de Boer (Netherlands), Steve McManaman (England), Robert Pires, Claude Makelele and Youri Djorkaeff (France), Jens Lehmann ( Germany), Gaizka Mendieta , Fernando Hierro and Michel Salgado (Spain), Paulo Sousa and Deco (Portugal), Roberto Carlos (Brasil) and Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic).
Former and current BSC Young Boys players will comprise the Young Boys & Friends team. Stephane Chapuisat, Swiss player and former UEFA Champions League winner, has already confirmed his participation. More top international names are expected to confirm in the coming days.
Football legends Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane have been the driving force behind the match since its inception in 2003. The match, which will be televised globally, is supported by both football’s governing body, the Fedération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
The 11th Annual Match Against Poverty in Bern will start at 20.00 local time on 4 March 2014. Ticket prices range from CHF 20.00 up to CHF 60.00 and are available at www.stadedesuisse.ch/tickets or www.ticketcorner.ch —- FIFA
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