Madrid, 21 November 2006 - FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter today received the title of honorary member of Real Madrid and a gold and diamond club badge from Real Madrid president Ram¨®n Calder¨®n at a ceremony held at the Santiago Bernab¨¦u stadium in Madrid.

FIFA President Joseph Blatter (L) embraces Real Madrid's president Ramon Calderon (R) after receiving the club's Gold and Diamond insignia during a ceremony at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid November 21, 2006. At the centre is Real Madrid's honorary president Alfredo Di Stefano.[Reuters]

Shortly afterwards, the two presidents signed a collaboration agreement between world football¡¯s governing body and the Real Madrid Foundation to devise and implement strategies to improve the standard of living of children all over the world, particularly in developing countries, through playing football.

¡°I am proud to receive this important distinction and sign this collaboration agreement with Real Madrid, a club which was a founder member of FIFA in 1904, was declared the Twentieth Century¡¯s Best Club in 2000 and was awarded the FIFA Centennial Order of Merit in 2004. I am convinced that together we can make a significant contribution to making the world a better place and, above all, bring joy and hope to young ones through our sport,¡± said the FIFA President.

¡°The future of our children continues to be a major priority for Real Madrid. It is truly an honour for me to be able to sign an agreement with FIFA that enables us to continue helping underprivileged children. One of my objectives as president was to restore the positive relations that the club has enjoyed historically with sporting bodies. Having President Blatter among us, his accepting the title of honorary member and presenting him with a gold and diamond club badge is a joy for Real Madrid that will live long in the memory,¡± said the president of Real Madrid.

This agreement is part of FIFA¡¯s strategy to work in conjunction with clubs to develop social responsibility programmes that help to build a better world through football.