He is part of the Welcome to Football initiative that was instigated by the German Football League (DFL) in September 2015 and has led to 24 of the country’s professional clubs running similar schemes to this one. “I used to play football in Iraq but in 2014 Isis came to my country and it was very hard because my best friend … Kalashnikov,” he adds, his voice trailing away. Wolfgang Euteneuer, a former professional for VfL Bochum who now runs the Welcome to Dortmund charity that provides support to refugees in the city, believes the support of professional clubs has been hugely beneficial. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Under the Welcome to Football scheme, classroom activity is at least as important as anything that happens on the pitch. Photograph: The Guardian“I’d like to see football clubs working with other organisations in their communities to support and welcome refugees,” she says.

Source: The Guardian December 05, 2017 13:07 UTC