Once again, the supporters clubs movement is demonstrating that solidarity becomes its clear priority when the facts require it. Faced with the situation in Ukraine, the Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation, Federations as well as supporters’ clubs and its members are doing their bit to help the people of the country.
One supporters’ club that is particularly affected by the conflict is Fan Club Barça Kyiv. That’s where the Penyes World Federation and the Confederation have intervened, covering part of the logistical and accommodation costs for the transfer of the fan club president’s wife, daughters and granddaughter from Kyiv to Murcia. There, they will be hosted by the secretary of the Fan Club Barça Kyiv. The Romanian supporters’ club Barça Fan Club Cluj and Grup Fidel, a group of members who are taking humanitarian aid to the Polish border and bringing back Ukrainian families fleeing the war, have also collaborated.
Online campaign
Fan Club Barça Kyiv is also the subject of a fundraising campaign that one of its members initiated at the outbreak of the conflict. Since then, contributions have been made by federations and supporters clubs from all over the world: PB Almogàvers, PB Bou, PB Solera, PB Quarta Lliga, PB Virtual, PB Alginet, PB El Paler, PB San Vicente del Raspeig, PB Madrid, PB Villabalter, PB Villacarrillo, FCB Clan, PB London, PB Stuttgart, PB Cluj, PB Bucharest, PB Budapest, PB Miami, PB San Diego and PB San Francisco. Other Barça fans have also participated in a personal capacity. The campaign has already raised 3,400 euros and is still active.
More actions
Federations and supporters clubs have also made their own actions for Ukraine. One of them is the PB Monells, from the Fed. Empordà i Catalunya Nord, which travelled with six vans to collect 45 refugees and bring them to Catalonia, where they will be received by host families. Others have opted for charity collections or financial donations. The Fed. Balears donated 750 euros, and its clubs PB Els Tamarells (900 kg in total) and PB Peguera collected food, clothes and medicines. In the Fed. Baix Llobregat, PB Sant Vicenç dels Horts has reached 3,000 kg collected, and PB Quarta Lliga has also donated material.
Other entities such as PB Solsona (Fed. Ponent Nord), PB Sant Cugat (Fed. Vallès), PB Arbúcies (Fed. Gironès, Selva, Garrotxa i Pla de l’Estany), PB Pedrito (Fed. Canarias), as well as supporters’ clubs from Mislata and Massanassa (Fed. València), have carried out their solidarity collections.
