Image via UN Refugee Agency on Twitter
Footballers and football clubs often get a bad name. Players are seen as money grabbing and greedy, and clubs are viewed as nothing more than big businesses, desperate to squeeze every last penny from their fans. When footballers do something genuinely good and try and lose this reputation, though, nothing seems to change. The fact that Cristiano Ronaldo is the most charitable sportsman in the world gets much less coverage than the more glamorous ways he spends his money and the other perceived ills of the sport.
As more and more refugees try and reach Europe so they can escape death and destitution in their home countries, Europe's football clubs who have played a key role in making sure these people are supported and looked after. Often, they have led the governments and politicians of the continent. It has been an important reminder of the power of the sport to unite the community of fans it represents.
Here's how some of the biggest teams in Europe are helping the refugees.
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund
As a country, Germany has been applauded for the way that it has welcomed refugees recently, and it's football teams are no different. Bayern Munich have led the charge, they've donated €1 million to various local refugee projects, announced that they will host training camps, German language classes and hot meals for young children, and they're going to play a friendly against Al-Ahly from Egypt, with all proceeds going to charity. Also, when they play Augsburg next weekend, the players will hold the hands of one German child and one young Syrian refugee, in an attempt to show an example of integration.
Borussia Dortmund have also done their bit for the refugee crisis. As well as banners adorning their famous stadium, they also invited 220 refugees to watch their Europa League game against OB.
Of all the European leagues, it is probably German football that has led the campaign to ensure that refugees are welcomed and looked after in Europe.
Real Madrid
Porto and the Champions League
Over the weekend, Porto became the latest high profile team to do their bit for the crisis. Rather than just make a huge donation to charity, though, they launched a call to arms and demanded that every club in the Champions League do their bit. Saying that it is "it is impossible to close our eyes to the drama of the migrants and refugees", the Porto president asked UEFA and the other clubs in the Champions League to donate €1 from each ticket sold for their opening two Champions League matchdays towards helping the refugees. UEFA and the other clubs haven't responded yet, but, if Porto's plan goes ahead, this will be a huge donation from pretty much all of Europe's major clubs.
English Football
Sadly, the strongest response from English football to the refugee crisis has been from the lower leagues. Teams like Kingstonian FC (pictured), Dulwich Hamlet and FC United have all unveiled banners and campaigns recently, but the top end of English football is still looking pretty quiet.
Part of the reason for this is the apparent rules banning Premier League clubs from allowing political banners, although the league itself has now said there are no rules stopping clubs and their fans from having these banners at the grounds. With that news, it does look like the bigger clubs are opening their eyes. Aston Villa fans plan to unveil their own banners and coordinate a club attempt to show their support for the Refugees Welcome campaign. It might be a bit late, but at least they're doing their bit.
Celtic
Celtic were one of the first major teams in Europe to offer support for people caught up in the refugee crisis. As well as the banners that have been unfurled by fans, the club has also announced that part of the funds raised through a series of events to mark the 30th anniversary of their ex-player and manager Jock Stein's death will go towards charities that directly help the refugees. Like Real Madrid, Celtic said this was an important part of what they were as a football club, with their chief executive saying "Celtic was established as a football club to help people in need and this ethos remains a fundamental part of our club almost 130 years after our formation. None of us can understand the true horrors of this situation but as a club we wanted to show our support for those affected."