FIFA and the Board of Peace signed a partnership agreement on Thursday to attract investment from global leaders and institutions for sustainable development in conflict-affected regions through football.
The Board of Peace, established under the US President Donald Trump, held its first meeting focused on Gaza’s reconstruction fund, aimed at rebuilding the territory once Hamas disarms.
The disarmament of Hamas militants and accompanying withdrawal of Israeli troops, the size of the reconstruction fund and the flow of humanitarian aid to the war-torn population are expected to pose significant challenges to the board’s effectiveness in the coming months.
The FIFA collaboration plan includes building 50 mini-pitches near schools and residential areas in Gaza, five full-size pitches across multiple districts, a state-of-the-art FIFA academy and a new 20,000-seat national stadium, FIFA said.
Trump said FIFA will raise $75 million for football-related projects in Gaza.
“Today, FIFA and the Board of Peace have signed a landmark partnership agreement that will foster investment into football for the purpose of helping the recovery process in post conflict areas,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
“Together with the support of the Board of Peace, FIFA will drive this partnership which is built to deliver impact at every stage.”
The program will also emphasize job creation, youth participation, organized leagues for boys and girls, community engagement and the stimulation of local commercial activities, FIFA said.
FIFA and Board of Peace to support Gaza reconstruction through football
https://arab.news/cr9pw
FIFA and Board of Peace to support Gaza reconstruction through football
- The Board of Peace, established under the US President Donald Trump, held its first meeting focused on Gaza’s reconstruction fund, aimed at rebuilding the territory once Hamas disarms
Man Utd financial results show profit increase after job cuts
- United generated an operating profit of $44m in the first six months of the fiscal year
- “We are now seeing the positive financial impact of our off-pitch transformation materialize both in our costs and profitability,” Berrada said
LONDON: Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada highlighted the “positive financial impact of our off-pitch transformation” after the club recorded a profit increase following their recent job cuts.
United generated an operating profit of £32.6 million ($44 million) in the first six months of the fiscal year, compared with a £3.9 million loss for the same period last year.
The operating profit for the most recent quarter, over the last three months, was £19.6 million, compared to £3.1 million in the same period last year.
Those numbers come after United minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, who heads the club’s football operation, oversaw a redundancy and restructuring program that saw around 450 jobs cut.
In announcing their latest figures on Wednesday, United said they had seen “the positive impact of operating cost and headcount reduction programs implemented in the prior year.”
United’s total revenues for the second quarter of the financial year were £190.3 million, down from £198.7 million for the equivalent period the previous year.
Commercial revenue dropped from £85.1 million to £78.5 million and match-day revenues down from £52 million to £49.5 million.
The fall in total revenues can be linked to United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League last season, denying them the income from European matches this season.
But with United up to fourth place in the Premier League this term under interim boss Michael Carrick, and the women’s team through to the Champions League quarter-finals, the club believe they are well placed for a further rise in profits.
United say they remain on track to record revenues of between £640 million and £660 million for the full fiscal year.
“We are now seeing the positive financial impact of our off-pitch transformation materialize both in our costs and profitability,” Berrada said.
“Today’s results demonstrate the underlying strength of our business as we continue to push for the best football results possible for our men’s and women’s teams.”
