BERLIN: Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola says Germany is setting an example of how other European countries should treat refugees as the Bundesliga’s stars help welcome migrants amid the ongoing crisis.
“Germany has shown us, and the world through German Chancellor Angela Merkel, what Germany is all about,” Guardiola said ahead of Bayern’s Champions League match at Olympiakos on Wednesday.
“This is not an easy situation and there is no easy answer, but Germany has taken the first step with Merkel,” he said, after her government accepted record waves of people fleeing war and poverty.
I hope other countries will follow this example,” said Guardiola.
I am very proud of the German people and very proud to be allowed to live in Germany.”
Around 450,000 refugees have arrived in Germany so far this year with up to one million expected in 2015, according to Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel.
Guardiola, a proud Catalan, is impressed with the German hospitality, and the country’s top clubs will show their support in this weekend’s matches.
All bar one of the 36 teams in Germany’s top two leagues will wear “We’re helping! #refugees welcome” logos on their shirts to encourage fans to help — with second division side St Pauli the only exception.
The Hamburg-based side explained their unwillingness to participate by saying they “have already been involved in the topic” for some time and pointed to their recent home friendly with Dortmund when 1,200 refugees were given free tickets.
“We provide very practical and direct aid where it is needed,” said St Pauli’s managing director Andreas Retting.
