FIFA to Grant $800,000 for Vietnam Youth Football Development

The world football body FIFA has announced a $800,000 grant for the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to develop the country’s youth football, state media reported. The grant will go to the construction of a performance laboratory equipped with the latest technology. It will also cover the expense of sending specialists to train Vietnamese staff on how to operate the lab. Part of the grant will also be for building an artificial glass training turf that meets the FIFA’s standard. Contractors for this project will be handpicked by the FIFA. Once completed, the facilities will be inspected by the association before being transferred to the VFF. FIFA General Secretary Jerome Vackle encouraged Vietnam in its effort to develop football and fight corruption in the sport. (Vietnam News Sept 19)