Bayern Munich donate $1.1 million to help refugees

By Tom McGowan, CNN
2 minute read
Published 11:30 AM EDT, Thu September 3, 2015
Real Madrid have become the latest European football team to announce it will be donating money to help migrants arriving in Europe.
Real Madrid have become the latest European football team to announce it will be donating money to help migrants arriving in Europe.
GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images
The Spanish giant stated Saturday it would provide $1.1 million for refugees arriving in Spain.
The Spanish giant stated Saturday it would provide $1.1 million for refugees arriving in Spain.
Curto de la Torre/AFP
Club president, Florentino Perez, spoke with Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy before confirming the move, a Real Madrid statement said.
Club president, Florentino Perez, spoke with Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy before confirming the move, a Real Madrid statement said.
Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Earlier this week, Bayern Munich revealed it would also donate $1.1 million to help migrants arriving in the German city. The Bundesliga club said it plans to set up a training camp for some of the thousands that have crossed into Germany via Hungary and Austria as well.<br />
Earlier this week, Bayern Munich revealed it would also donate $1.1 million to help migrants arriving in the German city. The Bundesliga club said it plans to set up a training camp for some of the thousands that have crossed into Germany via Hungary and Austria as well.
Matthias Hangst/Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images
"Bayern sees it as its social responsibility to help those fleeing and suffering children, women and men, to support them and accompany them in Germany," the club's chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement.<br /> <br />
"Bayern sees it as its social responsibility to help those fleeing and suffering children, women and men, to support them and accompany them in Germany," the club's chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement.
Adam Berry/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
As well as setting up the training camp for kids, Bayern will also offer them meals and German language classes in conjunction with the city of Munich. Here migrants seeking political asylum play football at the registration center on August 26, 2015 in Ingelheim, Germany.
As well as setting up the training camp for kids, Bayern will also offer them meals and German language classes in conjunction with the city of Munich. Here migrants seeking political asylum play football at the registration center on August 26, 2015 in Ingelheim, Germany.
Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Bayern isn't the only German club helping migrants. Here refugees, invited by Mainz 05, attend a Bundesliga match against Hannover 96 at Coface Arena in August.
Bayern isn't the only German club helping migrants. Here refugees, invited by Mainz 05, attend a Bundesliga match against Hannover 96 at Coface Arena in August.
Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images
Banners with "Refugees welcome" or "Welcome to Germany" were visible in many recent Bundesliga matches.
Banners with "Refugees welcome" or "Welcome to Germany" were visible in many recent Bundesliga matches.
Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty Images
Germany expects to receive 800,000 asylum seekers in 2015, four times more than in 2014.
Germany expects to receive 800,000 asylum seekers in 2015, four times more than in 2014.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Eleven-year-old Serbian refugee Kristina (L) is pictured playing table football, or foosball, with Iranian refugee Andabili Hossein at a temporary home providing assistance for refugees on August 5, 2015 in Berlin, Germany.
Eleven-year-old Serbian refugee Kristina (L) is pictured playing table football, or foosball, with Iranian refugee Andabili Hossein at a temporary home providing assistance for refugees on August 5, 2015 in Berlin, Germany.
Adam Berry/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Malian refugee Aboudala Dembele (C), rests with teammates at half-time during the match against Guinea as part of the "Balon Mundial" football tournament for migrants and foreigners, on June 13, 2015 in Turin.
Malian refugee Aboudala Dembele (C), rests with teammates at half-time during the match against Guinea as part of the "Balon Mundial" football tournament for migrants and foreigners, on June 13, 2015 in Turin.
MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Portugal players observe a minute of silence in honor of refugees and migrants coming to Europe prior to their training session at Coimbra da Mota stadium in Estoril on September 3, 2015.
Portugal players observe a minute of silence in honor of refugees and migrants coming to Europe prior to their training session at Coimbra da Mota stadium in Estoril on September 3, 2015.
JOSE MANUEL RIBEIRO/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
German football unites in response to Europe's migration crisis

Story highlights

Bayern Munich will donate $1.1 million to help refugees

Germany's government expects up to 800,000 asylum seekers to come from Syria this year

CNN  — 

As Europe wrestles with an unprecedented wave of refugees, Germany’s two biggest football teams have offered their support to migrants arriving in the country.

German champion Bayern Munich announced Thursday it will donate €1 million ($1.1 million) to relevant charitable projects, while the team’s players will walk out for its next match holding hands with young refugees.

Thousands of people, mostly from war-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, have poured into Germany, with hundreds filling a Munich train station earlier this week.

Bayern will also set up a training camp which will offer meals and German language classes to children.

Read: Refugees relieved to arrive in Germany

Germany’s government said last month it expected up to 800,000 asylum seekers to come from Syria this year alone – four times more than in 2014.

“FC Bayern see it as its social responsibility to help those fleeing and suffering children, women and men, to support them and accompany them in Germany,” team CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement.

“FC Bayern is taking a stand and I am happy about the club’s involvement,” added Munich mayor Dieter Reiter. “That is why I happily approved the city’s support.”

The plight of the refugees has prompted an outpouring of support from German football teams and fans alike, with supporters at a number of matches last weekend displaying banners stating: “Refugees welcome.”

Read: Boy’s tragic end “collective failure”

Borussia Dortmund, one of the few teams to have challenged Bayern’s dominance in recent years, invited 200 refugees to attend its match against Danish team Odds Ballklubb last week.

Dortmund also issued a statement declaring that Germany needs migrants – and that the country’s social security system will fall apart without them.

Mainz, which competes alongside Bayern and Dortmund in Germany’s top division, also welcomed refugees to its tie against Hannover.