Some of the money will come from the profits from a special clothes collection being released by fashion house Tommy Hilfiger next year in a partnership agreement.

In inner city London, the money could go on facilities, whether just a tarmaced area for sport or a basketball court.

"Somewhere for them to express themselves," was Henry's description.

"I had the chance in my neighbourhood to express myself as a footballer, they had the facilities. When you have young talent, young athletes, you have to make sure in this kind of area they have the facilities."

Henry's desire for action has been prompted not just by the racist behaviour of football fans.

In part, it is a practical response to having been appointed an anti-racism ambassador for FIFA, the game's governing body worldwide, in 2005.

However, it has also been shaped by another incident in Spain, when national coach Luis Aragones made disparaging remarks about him to Henry's then Arsenal team mate Jose Antonio Reyes in 2004.

Henry later criticised the modest fine handed out to Aragones and questioned the Spanish federation's attitude to racism.

"When I answered Aragones two years ago, I said it wasn't going to be the end, that I wasn't going to leave it there," Henry said in London's Royal Academy.

"But it takes time to build a foundation. Even if the money has to come from my own pocket, and sometimes it will, I don't mind.

"For me, this is really important to my heart."

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