London - Porto have called on the giants of European football to donate money to help ease the migrant crisis.
The Portuguese club issued a public letter to Uefa president Michel Platini on Friday, asking the 32 clubs in the Champions League to give up a percentage of their gate receipts from the first two games.
The letter from Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa read: ‘Porto, through Uefa, would like to invite the 31 clubs currently in the group stage of the Champions League to donate one euro per ticket sold for the first two match days. Let’s play for the migrants!’
Porto’s plea follows Bayern Munich’s pledge to donate £730 000 in emergency aid and set up a training camp, where refugee children will be able to train, eat, take German classes and be provided with kit.
On Friday Bayern midfielder Javi Martinez visited migrants at Munich train station to offer his support. ‘Every little helps! Welcome refugees!’ Martinez said in a tweet that included a photo of himself handing a football to a young child.
Celtic, meanwhile, will donate the proceeds from a charity game against Dunfermline this weekend to an international aid agency.
The IOC have also acted, setting up a £1.3m refugee fund. The money will be distributed through projects proposed by national committees.
The Premier League are yet to reveal their intentions.
Daily Mail