Roma to unveil refugee crisis initiative 'Football Cares'

On Tuesday, Roma will unveil plans for ‘Football Cares’, a program set up specifically to allow clubs and fans to put rivalries aside and unite to raise money for charities working on the ground to ease the humanitarian crisis.

The tragic photograph of three-year-old Alan Kurdi washed up on a Turkish beach earlier this week shocked the world but according to the United Nations, the toddler was just one of almost 60 million people to have been driven from their homes by persecution and war. Thousands of refugees, many of them children, are dying trying to reach safer land.

A number of individual clubs in Germany, Scotland and Spain have already announced plans to donate much needed money to the refugee crisis.

‘Football Cares’ aims to take a slightly different approach.

With the goal of uniting the entire football community under one banner, the hope is that by coming together, we can achieve more than we could individually.

A ‘Football Cares’ auction site and donation page are being set up to enable clubs and fans alike to get involved.

Roma, who are already supporting a number of football initiatives with refugees on the ground in Italy, are sending out a personal appeal to clubs all over the world to support ‘Football Cares’ and fans everywhere, regardless of club loyalties, are asked to donate to the cause.

Roma President James Pallotta and the club will announce a substantial donation to kick-start ‘Football Cares’ on Tuesday.

All money raised by ‘Football Cares’ – through the all-club auction and donation page – will go to the following four charities that are on the ground helping refugees: UNHCR, Save The Children, International Rescue Committee and the Red Cross.

‘Football Cares’ alone cannot end the refugee crisis but by coming together as one, we can make a difference in helping save lives and easing the suffering of refugees everywhere.

If you are a football club who would like to donate an item for auction or make a financial contribution, please contact footballcares@asroma.it