MUNICH: FC Bayern are set to team up with Real Madrid and Inter Milan to stage the "European Solidarity Cup" (ESC) in 2021 . The three clubs want to send a message of solidarity and use the proceeds to support medical infrastructure.
The solidarity event will see three football matches held during 2021 in the cities of Madrid, Munich and Milan. The dates for these games will depend on the competitive calendar and of course will take place when the fans are able to return to the stands.
The three teams will all come up against each other: Real Madrid vs Inter Milan will happen in Madrid, Inter Milan vs FC Bayern is set for Milan and FC Bayern vs Real Madrid will be held in Munich. The patron of the match between FC Bayern and Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena will be Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder.
The proceeds from these games will go towards the purchase of healthcare resources in Italy and Spain.
Healthcare staff who continue to fight the pandemic will be represented at all of the games. The three clubs wish to demonstrate to these heroes all of our solidarity, respect and gratitude.
"The coronavirus pandemic has hit Europe hard," commented FC Bayern chairman and CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. "We have established very good relations with a lot of clubs through many Champions League games, and have struck up friendships with some of them. Despite all the suffering and all the problems, we in Germany are perhaps fortunate that our healthcare system is proving resilient in this crisis. But we have also seen horrifying images from Italy and Spain, both countries among those hardest hit in Europe by the pandemic. We Germans have a very special relationship with both countries; Italy, like Spain, is one of our favourite holiday destinations.”
"Nurses, carers and doctors in particular are doing an outstanding job for society at the moment," Rummenigge continued. "We want to pay tribute to this, and that's why it is called ‘Football for Heroes’. FC Bayern will invite 5,000 nurses, carers and doctors to the Allianz Arena for the match against Real Madrid. We, the three clubs, want to show these heroes our appreciation, respect and gratitude."
“The COVID-19 pandemic has hit people all over the world with great force. The great commitment of all healthcare workers has been essential to now allow us to look to the future,” said Steven Zhang, Inter Milan club president.
“With this initiative we want to thank them and celebrate their work and at the same time send a message of unity and solidarity between nations,” he added.
The coronavirus pandemic has rocked the entire world and has claimed more than 320,000 lives so far.
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