FIFA President Gianni Infantino met Sri Lanka Football President Jaswar Umar last week in Doha, Qatar at the FIFA President’s Asian Office. Both Presidents discussed a range of topics, including development, governance, and activities that can have a social impact through football.
Gianni Infantino assured Jaswar that FIFA will fully support his good efforts to ‘re-start football’ after the COVID-19 global pandemic virtually crippled all sporting activities for nearly two years.
Jaswar Umar explained FIFA President’s visit to Sri Lanka in November last year had a very positive impact on the youth, and a large number have shown a keen interest in football with renewed hope. A record number of participants (nearly 2000) attended the selection trials for the U-17, U-20, and Women’s National Teams in the last two months. This shows the growing interest among parents to encourage their children towards football. Jaswar Umar’s initiative to ‘re-start football’ after the COVID-19 lockdown was highly successful, with the National Team, Youth Teams, Regional Level Football, Women’s Team and Club Competitions being rejuvenated. His ‘second-version’ of the medium-term plan is set to commence next month.
FIFA will support Sri Lanka in this second version by building a state-of-the-art stadium, construction of pitches in the regions, establishing good governance through a new constitution, coach educational support, youth competitions, technical support and grassroots.
The two Presidents are due to sign an MoU next month to launch a new program “Football for Schools” under the FIFA Foundation, where schools island wide will benefit with equipment and coaching support.