AFC - BARCELONA, Four Asian players have been invited to play in the international benefit match for the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster. Korean Cha Doo Ri, China’s Li Tie and twice AFC Player of the Year, Hidetoshi Nakata and AFC Player of the Year 2003 Mehdi Mahdavikia were among the 50 players named by FIFA yesterday.

“We are delighted that four Asians will play in the “Football for Hope" match. Their presence will be a symbol of the hope and inspiration of all the affected tsunami victims, especially the children,?said AFC General Secretary Dato Peter Velappan in Kuala Lumpur.

Velappan added that the Asian football family was deeply grateful for the initiatives taken by FIFA and UEFA in organizing the “Football for Hope?match which will be played at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium on 15 February at 2000 GMT. Over 50 stars have been invited, with world player of the year Ronaldinho and European footballer of the year Andriy Shevchenko to captain the two sides.

“This is indeed an act of humanity for the benefit of all those unfortunate victims of the tragic Tsunami in some of the Asian countries. We would also like to thank the Spanish FA and the Barcelona FC for making available the stadium for this match free of charge and also to all the players, fans, sponsors, tv broadcasters for their assistance and cooperation to make this match a great success,?Velappan said.

The proceeds from this match will go to the FIFA/AFC Tsunami Solidarity Fund which will be used to reconstruct all the football facilities that have been destroyed. AFC has set up a Tsunami Task Force Committee who will meet for the first time on 31 January 2005 in Kuala Lumpur to discuss means of using the funds and other aid projects to be undertaken.