Bundesliga
Bayern, Dortmund and Cologne donate to flood victims
Bundesliga clubs Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Cologne have pledged financial support to victims of the severe flooding that has swept through western Germany.
Dozens have died and hundreds remain unaccounted for following the floods which caused rivers to burst their banks, with the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia the worst hit.
In response to the devastation, Bayern, together with partner Telekom and fellow Bundesliga outfit Cologne, will donate 100,000 euros to the organisation 'Lichtblicke e.V, which will distribute the fund among those affected.
A cheque was presented before the record champions' friendly with the Billy Goats in Villingen on Saturday.
"The damage caused by this flood disaster is devastating," commented Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn. "FC Bayern, together with its partner Telekom and its friendly opponents Cologne, wants to help the people who are suffering such severe hardship through no fault of their own. This donation is just a first step, and FC Bayern is planning further measures of support."
Dortmund have also pledged their support to the recovery effort. BVB are planning to stage a charity match in the nearby city of Hagen, which has suffered particularly heavy damage.
"Hagen-Hohenlimburg is just a few kilometres from our front door," explained Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke. "Awful images are reaching us from there and from many other parts of the country, but so are touching ones that show how much the people of the region stand with each other in difficult situations.
"Borussia Dortmund will also do its part to help those affected and donate the proceeds of a charity match - which we would like to play in Hagen, if possible - to the victims. We'll start the talks on this matter in the coming days."