Bundesliga aims to highlight refugee crisis this weekend
Tuesday 15 September 2015 14:33, UK
German football aims to highlight the current refugee crisis during this weekend's round of matches.
All football players across the Bundesliga first and second divisions are to show their solidarity for people fleeing war and poverty by wearing patches.
Players will carry a patch on their left arm saying: "We're helping #refugeeswelcome" instead of an advertisement logo for logistics company Hermes.
The initiative is also being supported by German tabloid Bild, while Hermes gave up advertising in a similar manner last season to help German Cancer Aid.
Hertha Berlin general manager Michael Preetz said: "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 #refugeeswelcome' is a brilliant initiative and one we're happy to support."
At the weekend, Germany manager Joachim Low donated a cheque for 25,000 euros in honour of his career achievements to help refugees.
Low announced he was giving the money to help the influx of refugees arriving in Germany when he picked up the Golden Pyramid award in Hambug.
"It is all of our duty to help all of those who need it," said Low, who led Germany to World Cup glory in Brazil last summer.
"Our welcome should also be a world-beater," he added. "Let us extend a welcome to the refugees in the same way we did when welcoming football fans from around the world in 2006 for the World Cup in Germany."
