Blues Back Red Ball

Everton will play with a red charity ball at Birmingham.

Everton will play with a red ball in the match at Birmingham on Saturday as the Premier League raises awareness for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

In a top flight first, the specially designed Nike ball will be used in every game on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March.

And fans of Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A will also see the the red ball used in domestic fixtures on the same weekend to show their support.

The campaign funds AIDS programs that provide medicine, treatment and services for those living with HIV, and football-based community initiatives that deliver education and understanding around HIV/AIDS prevention.

It follows the launch of the Lace Up. Save Lives' project last year that saw footbllers wear red laces in their boots to promote the same message.

Former Everton defender Lucas Neill helped the campaign at a special event with fellow players Didier Drogba, Marco Materazzi and Clint Dempsey alongside U2 star Bono.

Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League, said: “The Premier League has enormous global appeal and we are committed to using our reach to raise awareness of this partnership between, Nike, one of our longest serving commercial partners, and (RED).

"A red ball and red laces are simple ideas, but sometimes those are the best – the hope is that the profile given through this and the money raised through ‘Lace Up, Save Lives’ will provide significant impetus and funding to the Global Fund’s activities to aid the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

"Football has a particular resonance in Africa, especially the Barclays Premier League, and our support for this campaign is part of our wider commitment to coaching, education and other good cause investment right across the continent.”

Since its launch in the Spring of 2006, more than $140 million has been generated by (RED) for the Global Fund. 

One hundred percent of this money is put to work in Global Fund AIDS grants in Africa with no overhead taken out.

For more information on the campaign click here.