FIFA president optimistic for Icelandic football

FIFA’s top official has congratulated Iceland for recent advancements in the development of local football.

The comments came during FIFA president Joseph S Blatter’s visit to the North Atlantic nation last week, when he toured a range of football facilities in in the country and met with representatives from the Football Association of Iceland (KSI). In addition, Blatter also met with Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson as well as Katrin Jakobsdottir, the country’s minister of education, science and culture.

Mr Blatter told media during his stay, “I want to congratulate the Football Association of Iceland, and in particular its President Geir Thorsteinsson, for the great work [that] is being done here to develop football. I am very impressed by the technical work performed by KSI, as well as by the facilities which have been built, including indoor full-size football pitches. I’m sure that such a well-thought policy will bring great results to Icelandic football,” FIFA.com reports.

The comments came in response to recent developments as part of the 2007 Iceland FIFA GOAL project, which saw the organisation provide assistance with the building of indoor facilities that are crucial for the development of the sport in sub-arctic climates.

President Grimsson told Mr Blotter during the visit, “When I look at the development of Icelandic football, done in a relatively short space of time and with a small population compared to many others, then it should be possible to make similar achievements in other parts of the world. Furthermore, I would like to underline the major contribution of the sport in strengthening the people’s solidarity in our economic recovery. Football brings people together. You should be proud of what you’re doing,” he said.