Bayern Munich, Dortmund among Bundesliga clubs offering €20m coronavirus solidarity fund to struggling clubs

A number of clubs are set to struggle financially due to the impacts of coronavirus
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Matt Davies26 March 2020

Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen have collated €20million as part of a solidarity fund to help German clubs in the top two tiers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The four clubs - who were the initial Champions League representatives for Germany this season - will share in entirety their national media revenue, equating to around €12.5m, adding a further €7.5 on their own.

Football in Germany is provisionally set to return in April, although the organising body's executive committee has suggested a suspension until April 30 at the very earliest - and at present, that looks unlikely.

As seen across a number of countries, the lack of fixtures will impact a number of clubs financially.

Of the money collated, Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "Together with the three other Champions League participants, we want to send a signal of solidarity to all clubs in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 with this initiative.

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"In these difficult times, it's important that the stronger shoulders support the weaker shoulders. With this, we also want to show that football is standing together right now."

Dortmund chief executive officer Hans-Joachim Watzke added: "We have always said that we would show solidarity if clubs, through no fault of their own, should run into difficulties that they can no longer overcome themselves.

"BVB is currently having a major impact on society through a wide range of initiatives. And naturally we are prepared to help out other professional football clubs if it is ultimately a matter of cushioning the financial effects of the pandemic."

German Football League boss Christian Seifert expressed his gratitude, saying: "This initiative underlines that solidarity in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 is not just cheap talk."

Former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness - in an interview with Kicker Magazine - also asserted that solidarity not just be a topic of conversation, but something acted on.

He also believes the world of football will not be the same when it does make its return, however.

"I can't imagine €100m transfers in the near future,“ he said. "Transfer fees will drop, the amounts will not recover to the previous level in the next two or three years. There will very likely be a new football world."

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