Europe's top football clubs "pledged to donate millions to the charities supporting refugees trying to enter the continent," according to Mark Critchley of the London INDEPENDENT. The European Club Association, which represents the interests of football clubs in UEFA, said that its members have agreed to give €1 ($1.10) "for every ticket sold during this month's Champions League and Europa League matches." The idea was first suggested by Portuguese club FC Porto's president in a letter addressed to UEFA President Michel Platini. In the proposal, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa claimed that "it is impossible to close our eyes to the drama of the migrants and refugees." Announcing the pledge, ECA Chair Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said, "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." Rummenigge said that up to €3M ($3.3M) could be raised, "with other members invited to contribute" (
INDEPENDENT, 9/9). The BBC reported Serie A side AS Roma announced that it "will donate more than half a million euros to an initiative set up to help refugees across the world." Roma President Jim Pallotta "has set up a fund called 'Football Cares,' which will raise money for charities helping those affected by the refugee crisis." The club "made an initial donation" of €575,000 ($644,000). Pallotta said, "After seeing the images coming out of Europe and the Middle East, we felt AS Roma had to do more" (
BBC, 9/8).
