In a remarkable gesture, four top Bundesliga clubs have pledged 20m euros to other teams in the league and the second division to help them through these tough times. The clubs will forego the remaining TV money, totalling 12.5m euros.
In accordance with most of the rest of Europe, Germany is currently in lockdown as the governments from across the continent attempt to stifle the spread of the deadly COVID-19.
As a result of that, all football has come to a temporary halt – for how long though is yet unclear.
Unfortunately, this means that a lot of the smaller teams will now be in a struggle to survive this halt from a financial perspective having lost their primary source of income, match day revenue.
The four teams in question that are involved in this gesture are Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen.
These teams are Germany’s representatives in the UEFA Champions League this year and as such, have less need for the television money coming from the Bundesliga.
Both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich have already taken in house measures to help with the financial impact of COVID-19 on their own club.
Bundesliga big boys reach in their pockets
Senior ranking officials and players at both clubs have decided to take a temporary wage to cut to allow the non-playing staff to have some job security.
The money that has been donated will be distributed by the German Football League (DFL) but Borussia Dortmund chief execetive Hans-Joachim Watzke says the club will help guide other teams through this tough period.
“We have always said that we would show solidarity if clubs, through no fault of their own, should run into difficulties that they can no longer overcome themselves,” Watzke said.
“BVB is currently having a major impact on society through a wide range of initiatives. And naturally we are prepared to help out other professional clubs if it is ultimately a matter of cushioning the financial effects of the pandemic.”
Spokesperson for the DFL Christian Seifert expressed gratitude on behalf of the institution.
“This campaign underlines that solidarity in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 is not lip service. The DFL Presidium is very grateful to the four Champions League participants in terms of the community of all clubs.”
Meanwhile, some of the top German players have been making donations of their own. Robert Lewandowski and his wife Anna donated 1m euros to fight the virus.
Also teammates Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich set up the We Kick Corona fund to which they have donated 1m euros between them.
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