Updated Thursday 16 April 2020
If your club is engaging in an activity that you believe would be of interest to ECA Member Clubs or should you come across interesting cases, please share them with Director Membership & Business Development, Lasse Wolter at lasse.wolter@ecaeurope.com. Should you like us to connect you with one of the clubs listed below for more context on the activity, we would be happy to do so.
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
Ferencvárosi launch Together at Home campaign
As part of the Hungarian club’s new campaign, Ferencvárosi is putting together gift packages for senior season ticket holders with products that were offered by supporters, including everyday essential health and food products, but also books to help pass the time spent at home.
UEFA Foundation supports Common Goal response fund
The UEFA Foundation for Children is supporting the Common Goal COVID-19 Response Fund, with the aim of helping to tackle the immediate effects of the pandemic on children and young people and ensure that support continues beyond, focusing on deprived communities and conflict settings.
Valencia donates medical equipment
The club's majority shareholder, Peter Lim, has donated 50,000 face masks and 300 thermometers to local hospitals across Valencia to allow for greater safety to healthcare professionals and patients. The club assisted in distributing the donated materials to the health facilities.
Panathinaikos cook free meals for those in need
Panathinaikos FC cooks have started coοking free meals to be delivered by the local municipality to fellow citizens facing subsistence problems and being confined due to COVID-19 restrictions.
PSG launches donations platform
PSG launched a fundraising platform on Wednesday 8 April to help carers and the most vulnerable in society during the coronavirus pandemic. The donations will be added to the €200,000 already collected by the Ligue 1 leaders thanks to the sale of the ‘Tous Unis’ jersey.
AZ proposes solidarity fund for hard-hit clubs
AZ has confirmed that it has submitted a proposal to the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) and Eredivisie to establish a solidarity fund for clubs in financial distress because of the corona crisis. Under AZ's plan, Dutch Champions League participants would make 25% of their income available and for Europa League group stage participants, it would be 15%.
Olympiacos supports hospitals and the vulnerable
As part of the Club’s efforts to support the country during the covid-19 pandemic, Olympiacos has been involved in fundraising initiatives for hospitals, medical staff and medical equipment, as well as providing meals to vulnerable members of society and supporting causes helping children in need during this period.
Glentoran makes personal calls to season ticket holders
The Northern Irish club has made personal telephone calls to season ticket holders that are self-isolating to check on their wellbeing, to offer support or simply to talk about football for a few minutes to take their minds briefly away from the current challenging times.
AS Roma delivers food to the elderly
As part of its campaign to support fans during the coronavirus pandemic, AS Roma has been delivering essentials to its oldest season ticket holders. Based on feedback received during deliveries in recent weeks, the club has now also opened its call centre to over-60 season ticket holders to assist them with the process of buying vital items over the phone or online.
Chelsea supports domestic abuse charity
Chelsea have joined up with charity Refuge to raise money to support women and children experiencing domestic abuse during the coronavirus crisis. Players from the men’s and women’s squads have taken part in a digital campaign, and the club will match all donations over the next six weeks.
Bordeaux help create endowment fund
Bordeaux has pledged support for an endowment fund for the city’s University Hospital which will be used to finance the purchase of artificial respirators and other essential equipment to fight the coronavirus, and to help the hospital’s hard-pressed medical staff. The club said: "We are going through a major health crisis. For many years, the club has supported the Bordeaux University Hospital and the hospitals in the region. This support is topical more than ever now.”
Real Madrid offers stadium in fight against COVID-19
Real Madrid CF has launched a project in Madrid to supply and distribute strategic medical supplies to be used to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, offering the Santiago Bernabéu as a space that is equipped to store the donations.
German Champions League clubs set up solidarity fund
FC Bayern, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen, are making €20 million available to support the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 during the coronavirus pandemic.
Liverpool offers matchday stewards to supermarkets
Liverpool FC has offered its matchday stewards to local supermarkets to help them manage large crowds during the coronavirus pandemic, as confirmed by the club’s CEO and ECA Executive Board Member Peter Moore.
#ACityUnited: Manchester clubs join forces
Manchester United and Manchester City have donated a combined £100,000 to support local food banks in their community to meet increased demand from vulnerable people due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Glenavon launches COVID-19 response initiative
Northern Irish club, Glenavon, has set up an initiative to provide long term assistance to those who need it most, using its stadium as a drop off point for essential items to be distributed to vulnerable people during this time.
FAN ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES
Sport embraces virtual competition
The Financial Times looks at how traditional sports are turning to virtual competitions as they seek to keep fans, broadcasters and sponsors enthralled.
PAOK host Football Manager tournament
PAOK TV hosted a ‘quarantine tournament’ of popular computer game, Football Manager, between players and a local journalist.
Clubs taking part in FIFA 20 tournament
EA and FIFA have announced the FIFA 20 Stay and Play Cup, a knockout tournament which will see 20 clubs put forward one player each to compete on the popular football video game and attempt to be crowned champion.
AEK Athens FC launch a #WeFightCOVID shirt
As part of the effort to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, COVID-19, AEK Athens FC has developed a special-purpose football shirt, with all profits going to the supply of medical materials.
Leyton Orient stages 128-team FIFA tournament to raise funds for EFL clubs
Leyton Orient have staged a 128-team FIFA tournament called ‘Ultimate QuaranTeam’ where clubs will compete for bragging rights in a bid to raise money for EFL clubs.
German club sells 100,000 tickets for 'invisible match'
A German fourth-tier club have sold more than 100,000 tickets for a match against an "invisible opponent" - despite averaging crowds of 3,000 - by selling e-tickets for one euro each for the mystery event, scheduled for 8 May.
PSV launches online platform
PSV has launched an online platform, #PSVWeStandTogether, consisting of extra club content to entertain and inspire fans whilst staying at home. The platform includes regular home work out videos as well as behind the scenes player content.
Ancelotti calls Everton fan self-isolating
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti made a personal call to a vulnerable fan who was self-isolating as part of the club’s Blue Family campaign where he asked how the club could help him and his family during this period.
NBA, ESPN TO TELEVISE H-O-R-S-E competition
The NBA and ESPN are working on televising a H-O-R-S-E competition involving several high-profile players, sources say. Players would shoot in isolation – presumably in home gyms – and match shots against competitors. Details are still being finalised.
Boston Red Sox Fans Visit Fenway Park with AR
The Boston Red Sox posted on Twitter a video example of an AR experience they’ve shared on Snapchat. Fans can open up an image of the famous ballpark wherever they are and almost walk in.
Man City launches ‘Cityzens at Home’
Manchester City FC has launched an online platform where fans can find regularly updated news, advice and a wide range of fun and educational activities, centred on football, for the whole family to enjoy in their homes.
Werder Bremen hosts YouTube fitness sessions
The German club is helping fans of all ages to stay active during the coronavirus pandemic by setting up a YouTube series dedicated to fitness which features sessions with some of the club’s specialised coaching staff.
digital matchday for Dortmund's catering businesses
Borussia Dortmund's first digital matchday was a resounding success that the BVB family can be proud of. The initiative to support over 125 Dortmund-based catering businesses that have been badly affected by the coronavirus has raised over €120,000.
NHL provide REMOTE access to education programme
The NHL and National Hockey League Players' Association are providing free remote access to Hockey Scholar, the hockey-themed STEM curriculum for elementary and middle school-aged students, to help educate the millions of children worldwide whose schools have closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
