Asian Cup ticket revenues donated to flood victims

Doha, Jan 25 (AFP) All ticket revenue from the Asian Cupsemi-finals today will be donated to help flood victims inAustralia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, organisers said.

A joint statement by Asian Football Confederation (AFC)president Mohamed Bin Hammam and Qatar Football Association(QFA) chief Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Thani saidthe flooding had been tragic.

"Our thoughts and wishes go to all those who suffer inour fellow Asian nations of Australia, Thailand and Sri Lanka,recently struck by flooding and national disasters," it said.

"It is the joint decision of the AFC, the QFA and theorganising committee of the Asian Cup to offer the proceeds ofthe semi-final matches of the AFC Asian Cup to a disasterrelief fund in order to help those affected.

"Our condolences are offered to those who have lost theirloved ones during these tragic events."

The semi-finals see Japan face South Korea at the AlGharafa Stadium, while Australia play Uzbekistan at theKhalifa Stadium.

Recent flooding across Australia has wroughtunprecedented damage with at least 20 people dead, while morethan one million people have been affected by monsoon floodsin Sri Lanka, with some 43 people perishing.

In Thailand, thousands of people were affected by floodsin the south this month. (AFP) SNK