By Toby Prince
All football players across the German first and second divisions are to show their solidarity for people fleeing war and poverty by wearing patches for this weekend’s round.
All players will carry a patch on their left arm saying “We’re helping, (hashtag)refugeeswelcome” instead of an advertisement logo for logistics company Hermes.
The initiative is also being supported by German tabloid Bild. Hermes gave up advertising in a similar manner last season to help German Cancer Aid.
Hertha Berlin general manager, Michael Preetz, says, “The refugees crisis concerns everyone, nobody can look away. We Bundesliga clubs can … no, we must use our reach, influence, and ability to help the many refugees who have already suffered so much. ‘We’re helping, (hashtag)refugeeswelcome’ is a brilliant initiative and one we’re happy to support.”
Europe’s top football clubs pledged to donate millions to the charities supporting refuges trying to enter the continent.
“This is a very serious and big problem we have to face now in Europe and I believe football has a kind responsibility for these poor people,” The European Club Association chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, pledged.
