David Beckham throws support behind Football for Fires match in Sydney
Stars including Didier Drogba and David Trezeguet will play in the Football for Fires fundraiser and now David Beckham has thrown his support behind the match. WATCH HIS VIDEO.
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Football superstar David Beckham has thrown his weight behind the Football for Fires charity match aiming to raise millions of dollars to aid communities recovering from this summer’s bushfires across the country.
In a rallying video released overnight, Beckham spoke of his distress at seeing footage of the fires, and thanked those supporting the game on May 23 at ANZ Stadium through ticket sales, merchandise purchases and financial donations.
Though the former England captain is unable to play in the game, his support will be seen as a sign of the desire globally to help the recovery from unprecedented fires around Australia.
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“I love how football can unite the world, and it’s amazing to see the Football for Fires charity match going ahead in Australia,” Beckham says in the video.
“My heart goes out to all those affected by the devastating fires. I’m really sorry I can’t be there but thank you to everyone for supporting this important cause … and to all the players, good luck.”
Beckham’s support adds to that from clubs including Celtic and Chelsea, as the international football fraternity throws its support behind a match featuring former stars such as Didier Drogba and David Trezuguet.
After the Fire Fight Australia concert at ANZ Stadium on Sunday raised almost $10m for bushfire relief, ticket sales are steady for the match at the same venue where Graham Arnold and Guus Hiddink will coach the two teams – one representing the SES, and the other the Rural Fire Service.
Other players involved include J-Sun Park, Tor Andre Flo, Dwight Yorke, Mark Bosnich and John Aloisi.
Special shirts have been designed for the game, and hundreds of volunteer fire and SES volunteers will be given free entry in an event designed to pay tribute to the emergency services.
Proceeds from the event will go to help football clubs damaged by the fire and rebuild community facilities, with more than half the tickets at the venue – some 40,000 – priced at affordable levels.
Match agent Lou Sticca, organising the event, said the game is “harnessing the world game and its star players to draw attention to the Australian bushfire crisis and the crucial rebuilding of communities that will be required long after the fires have eventually burnt out”.