ABBOTTABAD, Feb 23: World football’s ruling body FIFA has allocated funds for the development and reconstruction of infrastructure of football in quake-affected areas of NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. This was stated by Mohsen Gilani, development officer FIFA, at the Abbottabad Press Club on Thursday.

Mohsen has visited different sites in Azad Kashmir, Balakot, Mansehra and Abbottabad and prepared a summary that would be forwarded to FIFA after discussions with the president of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and sports board officials.

He said that FIFA with the cooperation of PFF had chalked out a comprehensive plan where besides the improvement of grounds, a full time football academy was planned to benefit the football players in the quake-affected areas.

During his visit to Abbottabad, the FIFA representative met sports officials, office-bearers of District Football Association, football players and government officials. Col Mujahidullah Tareen, Director Technical PFF, who accompanied Mohsen said that the PFF would utilize the opportunity for the improvement of football in these areas.