Euroscene: 'In times of conflict, post-conflict and emergencies, football can provide children with a sense of hope and normalcy. As the most popular sport in the world, football is a universal language that can help bridge divides and promote the core values necessary for lasting peace."
Those words come from The Power of Football For Peace, a document that details the $250,000 donation made this year by FIFA, to UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund. This year's donation, aimed at countries using football in their post-conflict building efforts, has sent 1,200 "Sport In A Box" kits to some of the world's most troubled zones - Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Colombia, Guinea, Haiti, Liberia, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan.
Not surprisingly, there is only one European country, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the list. Perhaps, by the standards of the poverty in Haiti, the violence in Palestine or indeed the genocide that ravaged Rwanda 10 years ago, and may well be ravaging Sudan today, Bosnia's problems appear less urgent.
Yet, when Bosnia Herzegovina play Serbia and Montenegro in a World Cup qualifier in Sarajevo's Olympic Kosevo stadium next Saturday, FIFA officials, not to mention local police chiefs, will be watching anxiously.
Given the suffering, pain and bloodshed of the Serb-led siege of Sarajevo 10 years ago, the "high-risk" rating is understandable. FIFA will be hoping football does indeed prove to be a "powerful tool to release tension and generate dialogue" and that "cultural differences and political agendas" do indeed "dissolve on the playing field", as Football For Peace claims.
On the positive side, FIFA and the police authorities can point to the friendly two years ago between the then Yugoslavia and Bosnia in Sarajevo (the former winning 2-0, by the way), which passed off without serious incident.
On the negative side, however, Bosnia's excellent 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Spain in Zenica last month was marred by an "object-throwing" incident when Spanish midfielder Juan Valeron was hit by a billiard ball.
Another uncomfortable incident happened in August 2003 when Sarajevo fans clashed with police, smashed cars and rioted in the wake of a UEFA Cup tie between FK Sarajevo and Serbian side Sartid Smederevo.
It may be of spurious comfort to FIFA and the Bosnian Football Federation that the billiard ball incident probably comes under the general category of "football hooliganism" rather than ethnic conflict.
What is sure is if the Bosnian fans misbehave, they will do their side no favours. After all, little Bosnia have been looking to build on the promise shown in their Euro 2004 qualifying group where they took four points from group winners Denmark as well as beating runners-up Norway.
Having already taken a point off the obvious group favourites Spain, Bosnia could find themselves in a three-way fight with Serbia and Belgium for the runners-up qualifying spot.
Furthermore, they may be hitting Serbia at a good time given the Serbs will be without Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman, Rangers midfielder Dragan Mladenovic, Anderlecht forward Nenad Jestovic and Spartak Moscow defender Dusan Petkovic, all injured.
Serbia will rely heavily on the likes of Inter's Dejan Stankovic and Savo Milosevic of Osasuna whilst Bosnia, likely to be without Modena's Vedin Music, can call on Derby County defender Muhamed Konjic and Bayern Munich midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic.
Bosnian coach Blaz Sliskovic says his side are much improved, while Serb opposite number Illja Petkovic said last week: "They are a very motivated team and must be taken very seriously. I've read a lot of the Bosnian press and I understand they are very emotional about this match. I don't want to add to the tension so I think we should go there with a cool head and a lot of self-belief".
Here's hoping everybody does indeed keep a cool head.
