Germany is currently experiencing its greatest influx of refugees for many decades. This presents a special challenge to the state and society. FC Bayern Munich will play an active part in meeting the challenge and, working closely with the city of Munich and state of Bavaria, contribute financial, material and practical help.

FC Bayern via its youth section plans to establish a “Training Camp” for refugees over the coming weeks. Municipal authorities will assume essential organisational tasks. Kids and youths will train at FC Bayern at intervals to be determined later, take German classes, and be provided with meals and football kit.

FC Bayern München AG will additionally donate €1 million from a friendly match to refugee support projects. The projects will be selected after liaison with Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann and Mayor of Munich Dieter Reiter.

At the club’s next match against FC Augsburg on 12 September, our players will be escorted onto the Allianz Arena pitch hand-in-hand with a German child and a refugee child as a mark of support for the integration of refugees.

FC Bayern president Karl Hopfner also announced measures to be taken by the club’s charity foundation FC Bayern Hilfe eV. The foundation is especially keen to raise the spirits of children from refugee families by providing activities and events in the period before Christmas.

“We at FC Bayern consider it our socio-political responsibility to help displaced and needy children, women and men, supporting and assisting them in Germany,” commented FC Bayern München chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) welcomed FC Bayern’s plans to help refugees: “This is a wonderful and exemplary programme which I fully welcome and support – another magnificent example of the willingness to help and welcoming culture in our country.”

Mayor of Munich Dieter Reiter (SPD) commented: “FC Bayern is laying down an important marker and I am delighted with the club’s significant commitment. I have consequently also gladly pledged the support of the city of Munich.”