Roma Club Shanghai donates 2,600 Covid-19 masks to Italy and Wuhan

The fan club, Roma’s biggest in China, will also send 600 masks to the Giallorossi’s fan club in Wuhan.

No countries have been harder hit by the coronavirus that China and Italy, which between them account for 71% of all Covid-19 deaths in the world to date.

And while China, and Wuhan in particular, have suffered the greatest loss of life, Roma Club Shanghai members wanted to show their own support to the Italian people by fundraising amongst themselves to buy supplies to send to Rome.

"When the COVID-19 first broke out in China, AS Roma was the first European football club to show us support on Twitter and send a message to say they were praying for us,” revealed Daniele Hou, vice president of Roma Club Shanghai. “Roma’s message made us Roma fans warm and proud.

“Now the situation in China is getting better and better, but Italy is suffering a lot. Every day I read the news and watch the infected number increasing in Italy. It hurts me to see my beloved club and city locked down by the virus.

"That's why I decided to start collecting money to buy masks. We have been through this and fully understand that masks are the most precious supplies during this difficult period. Luckily, I have many brothers and sisters in our fan club to support my idea. Together we managed to raise enough money to buy 2,600 surgical masks - 2,000 will be delivered to Italy and 600 will be delivered to Wuhan Fan Club.

"I hope these masks can pass our deepest blessing to people in Wuhan and Rome. Though miles apart, we share the same sky. Forza Wuhan! Forza Roma!"