Europe's football clubs plan mass donation for migrants

Europe's leading football clubs aim to generate up to 3 million euros ($3.3 million) for charities supporting migrants by donating income from ticket sales for upcoming Champions League and Europa League games.

The European Club Association (ECA) says that its clubs have agreed to donate 1 euro (1.1 dollars) for each ticket sold in their first home games in both competitions. The scheme involves 80 clubs participating in the group stage of the UEFA tournaments, but the other 140 ECA members have also been invited to donate.

"We expect between 2 and 3 million dollars," said ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who was re-elected for another two-year term as ECA president. "This is a serious and big problem we have to face now in Europe. I believe football has a responsibility to help these poor people," added Rummenigge.

The move comes after other clubs such as Bayern Munich (where Rummenigge is chairman), Real Madrid and Roma also launched initiatives and made donations to help the large number of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe. Roma's efforts were announced on Tuesday morning, when the jerseys worn by Francesco Totti, Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic were donated to the newly-launched "Football Cares" auction site to raise money for refugee support.

jh/apc (Reuters)