UEFA throws support to Phl typhoon victims

MANILA, Philippines - The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) will show its support to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines by displaying a banner of support in all the matches of the UEFA Champions League throughout the week.

UEFA president Michel Platini said the banner will bear the message: “Hindi kayo nagiisa, Pilipinas” (You are not alone, Philippines) as a way of showing respect to the victims and rallying them on as they try to recover from the tragedy.

Platini added that UEFA, the governing body for football in Europe with 54 full member associations, will also be coordinating with the Philippine Football Federation “to determine the appropriate means of support.”

“The entire European football family will stand united on the pitch this week before our matches, in order to express our deepest sympathy and full support to the Philippines, and we wish them continued strength in tackling the subsequent problems following the tragedy,” he said in the UEFA website.

The banner will be displayed in the different venues in the Champs League’s matchday 5 fixtures, beginning with yesterday’s Steaua vs Schalke in Bucharest, Basel vs Chelsea in Switzerland, Arsenal vs Marseille in London, Dortmund vs Napoli in Germany, Porto vs Austria Wein in Portugal, Zenith vs Atletico in St. Petersburg, Celtic vs Milan in Glasgow, and Ajax vs Barcelona in Amsterdam.

The UEFA followed the support expressed by the Asian Football Confederation, whose president Shaikh Salmanbin Ebrahim Al Khalifa had pledged an undisclosed amount during his recent visit to the country.