Zurich  - Football's ruling body FIFA asked Tuesday that all member associations scheduled to hold midweek 2010 World Cup qualifiers observe a minute's silence prior to kick-off in memory of the 22 victims of last weekend's Abidjan stadium disaster.

"The minute's silence is a mark of respect for the African football family and in memory of the persons who lost their lives outside of the stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on 29 March 2009, ahead of the preliminary competition match in the same competition between Ivory Coast and Malawi," said FIFA in a statement.

The 22 football fans died and over were 100 injured in a crush that came about after a wall collapsed in the stadium before Ivory Coast's 5-0 Group E African qualifying victory against Malawi in Abidjan. (dpa)