UEFA President to attend Match Against Poverty

UEFA President Michel Platini is to attend the UEFA-backed 11th annual Match Against Poverty at the Stade de Suisse in Berne, Switzerland on Tuesday (kick-off 20.00 CET).

Mr Platini will be meeting with the array of football superstars who are taking part in the match, which features United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ambassadors Ronaldo and Zinédine Zidane.

The match will pit Ronaldo, Zidane & Friends against Young Boys & Friends, comprising current and former players from BSC Young Boys, who are based at the Stade de Suisse.

UEFA's President is also showing his support for the cause of the match; two-thirds of the funds it raises are destined to help the millions of people in the Philippines displaced or otherwise affected by last November's devastating Typhoon Haiyan.

The remainder of the proceeds will be donated by Young Boys to Laureus Foundation Switzerland – part of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a charity that gives practical and financial assistance to almost 150 national-level sport-based projects in 34 countries worldwide.

"I am really looking forward to attending the 11th edition of the UNDP Match Against Poverty, and hope to see a stadium full of fans in Berne," said Mr  Platini. "It's great that so many legends of world football are joining forces once again to raise money for charity.

"I am a firm believer that football can play a key role in social change, and I commend all the work done by the UNDP, Ronaldo, Zinédine Zidane and their friends over the years."

The list of stars confirmed for the Ronaldo, Zidane & Friends team is:

Juliano Belletti (Brazil)
Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
Jamie Carragher (England)
Fernando Couto (Portugal)
Ronald de Boer (Netherlands)
Deco (Portugal)
Giovane Elber (Brazil)
Paulo Ferreira (Portugal)
Luís Figo (Portugal)
Gennaro Gattuso (Italy)
Ruud Gullit (Netherlands)
Hakan Şükür (Turkey)
Fernando Hierro (Spain)
Christian Karembeu (France)
Jens Lehmann (Germany)
Fredrik Ljungberg (Sweden)
Claude Makelele (France)
Paolo Maldini (Italy)
Marta (Brazil)
Steve McManaman (England)
Gaizka Mendieta (Spain)
Hidetoshi Nakata (Japan)
Pavel Nedvěd (Czech Republic)
Robert Pirès (France)
Roberto Carlos (Brazil)
Míchel Salgado (Spain)
Paulo Sousa (Portugal)
Patrick Vieira (France)
Christian Vieri (Italy)
Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy)

Past and present Young Boys players will perform in the Young Boys & Friends team led by former Swiss internationals Stéphane Chapuisat and Hakan Yakin.

Ticket prices range from CHF 20 to CHF 60 and are available at https://ticket.stadedesuisse.ch/or http://www.ticketcorner.ch/

UNDP administrator Helen Clark's video message advertising the Match Against Poverty.