HIBAPRESS
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Thursday in Washington a partnership with the Peace Council with the aim of creating an "integrated football system" in Gaza, with the goal of "promoting peace, dignity, and hope".
This announcement came during the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council, held under the presidency of US President Donald Trump, with the participation of leaders of countries and governments and foreign ministers representing about fifty countries, including Morocco. According to FIFA, this project includes the construction of 50 mini-pitches of (FIFA Arena) at a cost of $50,000 per pitch, and five standard-size pitches at a cost of $1 million per pitch, a FIFA academy ($15 million), and a national stadium at an estimated cost of $50 million. Gianni Infantino stressed that these investments will enable the creation of an integrated football system that aims to support the population and future generations, thus embodying the joint commitment of the Peace Council and FIFA to establish peace. The FIFA President noted that "football is a universal language. It is spoken by more than six billion people (…) it is synonymous with hope, joy, happiness, solidarity and global unity." He said that FIFA hopes to contribute to efforts to support peace "because we should not only focus on rebuilding homes, schools, hospitals and roads (…) but we must also rebuild and consolidate emotions, hope and confidence among people," adding that "that is what football embodies." In his opinion, the establishment of a football system in Gaza will support the establishment of leagues at the regional level, and among amateur youth, which will strengthen collective commitment both inside and outside the field. The speaker adds that it will also provide "various professional opportunities, supporting the development of local talents, not only on the field, but in all areas that contribute to the development of football." The Peace Council's initial mission is to work on reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, but the US President has assigned it a greater role aimed at resolving conflicts around the world.
