Europe's top football clubs pledge to support refugee crisis
The European Club Association will support the current European refugee crisis by donating €1 ($1.12) for every ticket sold in September at Champions League and Europa League matches, The Independentreported Tuesday.
The ECA, which represents football clubs in UEFA, agreed to the idea after it was first presented by FC Porto’s president Jorge Nuno Pinto de Costa, who said in a letter, “it is impossible to close our eyes to the drama of the migrants and refugees.”
Europe is currently riddled by war conflicts and torn nations whose natives are fleeing.
The plan is for 80 ECA represented clubs to donate funds from their first home matches in the group stages of both competitions.
In his pledge announcement, ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said of the current refugee crisis, “This is a serious and big problem we have to face now in Europe and I believe football has a kind responsibility for these poor people.”
It is expected that up to €3 million ($3.4 million) could be raised by the ECA's efforts.
The International Olympic Committee also recently announced it would create a $2 million fund dedicated to refugee aid.
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