In a movement started by FC Porto, Champions League clubs will be donating €1 from every ticket sold during their Champions League matches.
Manchester United have also joined the campaign, entitled ’90 Minutes for Hope’, in order to raise money for the European refugee crisis which has seen millions of Syrian and Palestinian people flee their war-torn homeland.
United have released this statement on their official website:
Based on an initial idea by FC Porto and supported by the European Club Association, each team in this season’s UEFA Champions League or Europa League has been asked to donate one euro for every ticket sold for their first European home match.
In support of this initiative, Manchester United will be donating one euro for each ticket sold for the forthcoming visit of Wolfsburg on 30 September. PSV Eindhoven also backed the campaign by donating one euro for each ticket sold for Tuesday’s match against United at the Philips Stadion.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who is also on the ECA board, said: “It is important that football reflects the feelings of the communities in which it is based. Manchester United is very supportive of ’90 Minutes for Hope’ and we hope that fans of both teams will join in its spirit.”
In a letter to the clubs, ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge commented: “Europe is currently facing the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War. We, the European clubs, understand that our work goes well beyond what we achieve on the pitch and are naturally committed to engaging in social causes and giving back to society. As important stakeholders within society, we cannot close our eyes to the dramatic scenes currently taking place throughout Europe. Let’s be united for the refugees!”
All funds raised will be transferred to specialised organisations across Europe to help the refugees in these critical times. This donation from United is in addition to the on-going partnership work with UNICEF under the banner of United for UNICEF.
