Chhetri, Messi part of FIFA's campaign against COVID-19

The 'Pass the message to kick out coronavirus' campaign calls for people around the world to follow five key steps to protect their health in line with WHO’s guidelines.

India captain Sunil Chhetri is among 28 players picked by the game’s governing body, FIFA, in their campaign to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO) have teamed up to combat the coronavirus by launching a new awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers.

The 'Pass the message to kick out coronavirus' campaign calls for people around the world to follow five key steps to protect their health in line with WHO’s guidelines -- hand washing, coughing etiquette, not touching your face, physical distancing and staying home if feeling unwell.

The 28 players, who will be involved in the video campaign to be published in 13 languages, include FC Barcelona’s Argentine superstar Lionel Messi and World Cup-winners Philip Lahm, Iker Casillas and Carles Puyol.

Sunil Chhetri. Photograph: AIFF Media

"FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino have been actively involved in passing the message against this pandemic since the very beginning," said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the virtual launch of the campaign at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

"Be it through campaigns or funding, FIFA has stood up to the coronavirus, and I am delighted that world football is supporting WHO to kick out the coronavirus. I have no doubt with this type of support that together we will win," he ssaid in a FIFA release.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: "We need teamwork to combat the coronavirus. FIFA has teamed up with WHO because health comes first. I call upon the football community worldwide to join us in supporting this campaign to pass the message even further.

"Some of the greatest players to have played the beautiful game have put their names to the campaign and are united in their desire to pass the message to kick out COVID-19."

The Players who will be part of the campaign:

Sami Al Jaber (KSA), Alisson Becker (BRA), Emre Belözoglu (TUR), Jared Borgetti (MEX), Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Iker Casillas (ESP), Sunil Chhetri (IND),  Youri Djorkaeff (FRA), Han Duan (CHN), Samuel Eto'o (CMR), Radamel Falcao (COL),  Laura Georges (FRA), Valeri Karpin (RUS), Miroslav Klose (GER), Philipp Lahm (GER),   Gary Lineker (ENG), Carli Lloyd (USA), Lionel Messi (ARG), Mido (EGY), Michael Owen (ENG), Park Ji-sung (KOR), Carles Puyol (ESP), Celia Sasic (GER), Asako Takakura (JPN), aya Touré (CIV), Juan Sebastián Verón (ARG), Sun Wen (CHN), Xavi Hernández (ESP).