We all have our say from time to time about the absurd money involved in some of the elite sports around the world. When an average footballer can earn in one week what the ordinary worker takes four years to earn it’s totally understandable that there may be a few grumbles from time to time, especially when managers and players are giving out about having to play three games in a certain week… give us strength!
We have all got a right slap in the face and have had a real eye opener to what really is important in life. And with COVID19 running rampant around the world it has to be said our sporting millionaires have stepped up to the plate.
Ronaldo, Messi & Pep
Footballers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have reportedly donated €1million euros each to the cause. Messi’s donation went to Hospital Clinic in Barcelona, which is both treating the victims of the pandemic and researching the virus. While Cristiano Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes also jointly donated life-saving equipment to Portuguese hospitals in Lisbon and Porto.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has also donated €1million to help the fight in his native country, Spain. Again like Ronaldo, Pep donated to a campaign trying to supply health equipment to deal with the pandemic.
Conor McGregor
UFC star Conor McGregor is putting his money where his mouth is, donating €1million in medical supplies to hospitals in need in Ireland.
In announcing his donation he asked for a “full lockdown” to occur in the country in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus. He said enforcement of a lockdown has been “too lax” and encouraged “health before wealth.”
Love him or loathe him there is no doubt that the Irishman has done his bit this time and also previously when he donated $1million to a charity that helps families of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty in the USA. He gave €50,000 towards homelessness in Ireland and also €10,000 to cover medical expenses a kid named Bryan McCullough. He’s not that bad after all.
NFL
A whole host of American Football teams either raised or donated money on response to the COVID19 crisis. Pittsburgh Steelers handed over $100,000 to a local emergency fund. The Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguar’s owner Shad Khan, NY Jets and the Johnson family and Arizona Cardinals all pledged $1million each. While Dee and Jimmy Halsam of the Cleveland Browns donated $1.5million.
Along with the Buffalo Bill’s ($1.2million) and the Los Angeles Rams who hosted a virtual telethon ($2million) there has also been a host of other teams, owners and players announcing they would financially support those in need.
Rodger Federer
The Swiss tennis star and his wife Mirka matched those NFL teams in donating just over $1million to the most vulnerable families in his home country.
“Our contribution is just a start. We hope that others might join in supporting more families in need. Together we can overcome this crisis.”
Celtic FC have pledged to donate £150,000 to aid NHS staff and society’s most-vulnerable while also looking to feed 250 people a day at Celtic Park, providing them with three meals every day.
Arsenal Fc tweeted :
La Liga held its very own FIFA 20 competition, with 18 of Spain’s 20 top-flight clubs taking part, each of them represented by one of their players. Marco Asensio won the title for Real Madrid, beating Aitor Ruibal of Leganes in the final. Nearly 170,000 people followed the matches and €180,000 was raised
Italian football clubs, players and fans have banded together to raise millions of euros to support the country’s stretched health system amid the devastating coronavirus outbreak. Players and staff at Inter have donated €500,000 while crowdfunding campaigns set up by Roma, AC Milan, Juventus and Fiorentina have each raised more than €420,000.
Silvio Berlusconi, owner of third-tier soccer team AC Monza and former President of AC Milan, made a €10million donation on Tuesday to help build a 400-bed intensive care unit in the Lombardy region.
Bayern Munich’s midfielders Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich have decided to donate €1million to charity organizations, which are raising funds to fight the ongoing global spread of the coronavirus.
Sport
Brooks Koepka ($100,000), a group of more than 100 athletes from 20 different sports including Stephen Curry (basketball), Shaun White (snowboarder), Sir Nick Faldo and Michael Phelps have donated signed memorabilia to be auctioned off by the ‘Athletes Relief’ fund. Money is not all that’s needed and clubs like Everton FC recognise this. Players and Manager Carlo Ancelotti are ringing supporters to keep moral high and a friendly ear to those who may live alone.
There are many sports stars and clubs playing their part, far too many to mention. But what we are seeing both inside and outside of sport is people working together. Communities going above and beyond to be there for the neighbours and friends. Random acts of kindness have gone through the roof and it warms the heart in these uncertain times. Sport may have been shut down and it is way down on the list of priorities at the moment but these times also show how powerful it is bringing people together. Our kid’s sporting idols play a huge role in setting an example in these tough times and they are generally doing a great job.