FIFA President warns against re-starting football too early

Gianni Infantino says "health comes first" as FIFA looks towards to the future after the coronavirus and warns against restarting too soon.

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(SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "At this moment at FIFA, we have three things in our mind and here they are in order of priority.

First: heath.

Health has to come first in all that we do.

Second: the second is to see how we can best help the football community in this hour of need.

And third: well third, as life has slowed down, we have to see how we can use this moment to reflect and to think about the future." 2.

WHITE FLASH 3.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "On our first priority, our principle, the one we will use for our competitions and encourage everyone to follow is that health comes first.

I cannot stress this enough.

No match, no competition, no league is worth risking a single human life.

Everyone in the world should have this very clear in their mind.

It would be more than irresponsible to force competitions to resume if things are not on hundred per cent safe.

If we have to wait a little longer, so we must do so.

It's better to wait a little bit, than to take any risks." 4.

WHITE FLASH 5.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "I want to also thank all of you, who have been so active in using football to pass this message of health and sharing this with your respective communities.

I have been really proud to see how you have shown solidarity, being proactive and helping society.

This is what football and teamwork is all about and we have to continue like this." 6.

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(SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "FIFA enjoys a good reputation on the financial markets.

This has helped us to consolidate a solid foundation with large reserves.

But our reserves are not FIFA's money.

It is football's money.

So, when football is in need, we must think what we can do to help.

It is our responsibility and our duty." 8.

WHITE FLASH 9.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "The objective is to have a fund that has an independent governance structure.

This will reinforce professional and solutional re-entered approach that is fit for purpose.

And this means that the world will know where the money goes and, equally important, why the money goes there." 10.

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(SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "I have asked the FIFA administration to take the necessary steps, with the approval of the relevant committees, to anticipate the payment of the second part of the operation costs from the Forward Progamme, which is due in the second part of this year.

Given the exceptional circumstances, I've also asked the requirement for the fulfillment of the additional criteria to be waived for both this year and last year, in order for the full amount to be paid to you all." 12.

WHITE FLASH 13.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "If football manage to have a discussion where everyone contributes positively, and keeps in mind the global interest over the individual ones, I am convinced that our future can be better than our past, and we will be better prepared for the times ahead." 14.

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(SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "I am aware that we need to protect national team football.

Because national team football simply means not more and not less than the survival for the vast majority of you.

And we also need to find the right balance with protecting club football as the engine of our game.

We are then looking as well at players' contracts and transfer windows as you have seen recently.

We have to show flexibility and common sense in our legal approach going forward." 16.

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(SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "I'm convinced that football will play a key role to bring people back together when it's safe to play again and be with our friends and families in large groups.

Let's prepare for that moment.

My dear friends, please do keep safe and take good care of yourselves and your families.

Let's continue to follow the recommendations of the health authorities, both from your country and from the World Health Organization.

See you very soon my friends.

FIFA is with you in these difficult times, and together, we will win." STORY: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has warned against re-starting football too early amid the coronavirus pandemic, telling FIFA's 211 member associations on Friday (April 10) that such behaviour would be irresponsible.

Soccer around the world has come to a standstill with almost all domestic leagues on hold and major tournaments such as Euro 2020 and the Copa America postponed for one year.

"Our first priority, our principle, the one we will use for our competitions and encourage everyone to follow is that health comes first," Infantino said in a statement on Friday which FIFA said was specially aimed at its members.

"I cannot stress this enough.

No match, no competition, no league is worth risking a single human life.

Everyone in the world should have this very clear in their mind." Meanwhile, discussions are being held around the world over when and how to re-start the season while in some countries there are disagreements over whether players should face pay cuts.

"It would be more than irresponsible to force competitions to resume if things are not 100 per cent safe," Infantino said.

"If we have to wait a little longer we must do so.

It's better to wait a little bit longer than to take any risks." Infantino reiterated that FIFA was assessing the financial impact of the stoppage so it could prepare the right response.

"You have to know that we will be there and we will find solutions together," he said.

"You will never be alone... (and) the world will know where the money goes and, equally important, why the money goes there.

"If football manages to have a discussion where everyone contributes positively, and keeps in mind the global interest over the individual one, I am convinced our future can be better than our past, and we will be better prepared for the times ahead," Infantino added.

(Production: Stefan Haskins)