Three weeks after the start of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the actors of European football are carrying out actions of solidarity towards the Ukrainian people. Between donations, collections of food and equipment, solidarity convoys at the borders and in Ukrainian lands, the world of football is getting organized to come to the aid of Ukraine. Overview of different actions of clubs, players and organizations.
Real Madrid donates one million euros
In a press release published on Wednesday March 16, the White House announced that it had made a “donation of one million euros as part of the ‘All with Ukraine’ campaign, launched on March 5 by the Real Madrid Foundation, to help alleviate the needs of displaced populations in Ukraine“. The club specifies that these funds will be paid to the main international NGOs present in Ukraine and on its borders (Spanish Red Cross, UNHCR, Misiones Salesianas, Cesal and Epicentr for children). “The Real Madrid Foundation donated a convoy of more than 13,000 warm and sports clothes for the first aid of refugees arriving from Ukraine“adds the Spanish club.
El Real Madrid donated one million euros to the displaced population of Ucrania.#Real Madrid
— Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) March 16, 2022
Ligue 1 clubs on the alert
Many Ligue 1 clubs have been keen to provide support beyond symbolic actions on the pitch. Olympique Lyonnais affirmed its commitment “alongside international aid for Ukraine”, in a press release in which the club announced “make a donation of 50,000 euros to UNICEF helping children” Ukrainians. In addition, OL is organizing a charity match, which will be held on May 10 and whose “proceeds will help protect children in Ukraine“.
Their neighbors from Saint-Etienne, for their part, auctioned the shirts for the match against Metz, for the benefit of the association of French humanitarian firefighters, for the reception of Ukrainian refugees.
The jerseys worn by the Greens during#ASSEFCM (1-0) are auctioned for the benefit of the association of French Humanitarian Firefighters.
Peace for all
– AS Saint-Etienne (@ASSEofficiel) March 7, 2022
The Stade de Reims organized a “solidarity convoy for Ukraine“consisting of nine full trucks”foodstuffs, blankets, plaids, nappies and medical equipment of all kinds (masks, bandages, painkillers, etc.)“, collected by the club during a collection in the Champagne city.
Other clubs have set up fundraisers and food drives for Ukraine, such as LOSC or Olympique de Marseille. Going through its foundation, PSG joined forces with the French Secours Populaire and unblocked “an emergency fund of 50,000 euros for the purchase and distribution of kits comprising 9,000 hygiene products and food for children“, says France Bleu Paris.
The Ukrainian Football Association at the heart of the humanitarian aid process
On March 15, the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) announced in a statement that it had received a delivery “FIFA medical aid“, consisting of “drugs, medical kits, and other medical supplies”, which will be sent to “the main military hospital in kyiv“.
Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, the UAF has communicated on the various actions of the actors of Ukrainian and international football. Thus, the Spanish coach Luis Cortes, head of the women’s team of Ukraine, participated in a humanitarian convoy, or the player of the national team, Andriy Yarmolenko, sent financial support to the Ukrainian armed forces in Chernihiv , the city where he grew up.