Even in 2013, 10,000 applications for player passes were made to the German Football Association (DFB). Two years later and more than 40,000 were applications were received. These are just some of the many figures which allow us to see how the influx of refugees has changed football. “Refugees love playing football and many want to compete,” explains DFB vice-president Eugen Gehlenborg. “Thousands of amateur clubs are making an important social contribution both on the pitch and also off it. Club volunteers are also helping refugees fill out certain forms. The clubs also benefit as they gain new members for their club.”
13 UEFA national associations have sent their managing personnel to Frankfurt, in order to get a better understanding of how organised football in Germany is dealing with the influx of refugees. From Monday through to Thursday, a UEFA study-group will take place at the DFB headquarters under the title: “Football and Refugees”. Austria, England, Italy, Holland and Turkey are among some of the national associations who will be attending, having sent two personnel each. Gehlenborg, who has been President of the north German Football Association (NFV) since 2009, accompanied the 30-man delegation on a flying visit to an amateur club near Offenbach. This club in particular was striving to achieve the inclusion of refugees.
It was here that Eugen Gehlenborg took a clear stance against the statement made by CSU General Secretary Andreas Scheuer, who expressed this opinion at the weekend: “The worst thing would be a football-playing Senegalese who has been here for three years. You will never be able to deport somebody like that.” Gehlenborg said: “The decision about who should and shouldn’t be allowed to stay in the country rests with the politicians and public authorities. It is not football’s duty. Instead, football contributes to the integration and respectful interaction of people. With this, the DFB wholly supports its clubs. We find it regrettable that Andreas Scheuer has questioned a big effort made by many male and female footballers in the country.
DFB refugee brochure helps thousands
Football clubs in Germany now have a lot more knowledge about how to receive people who have fled places like Afghanistan, Syria and North Africa, thanks to a much sought-after DFB publication. “We received our first inquiry in the summer of 2014,” said Stefanie Schulte from DFB. “Player passes, insurance protection, sharing of facilities, these were all the practical things that clubs wanted help getting to grips with. We then gathered all the information and from that we produced the refugee brochure. Around 30,000 copies have since been sent off to clubs, with requests coming through the DFB and the federal government.
More than 2,500 clubs are taking part in the “1-0 für ein Wilkommen” (1-0 for acceptance) initiative, which has been implemented by the DFB Egidius Braun foundation and the commissioners of the federal government. “We had budgeted for helping 600 clubs a year, but after just a year and a half, 2,500 clubs had already signed up,” explained Gehlenborg. Each participating club receives 500 Euros through the initiative. “The money often goes towards things like paying the membership fee of players or being able to buy a pair of football boots,” explained Tobias Wrzesinki from the Braunn foundation.
Per Omdal has been a vice-president at UEFA since the 90s and is a delegation leader in Frankfurt. “Football is colour-blind,” he said. “The associations and especially the local clubs invite children from refugee homes to play football. We came to Frankfurt in order to learn how we can be even better and more efficient at promoting this process.” The idea of organising a UEFA Study-Group on the theme of “Football and Refugees” came in February, at the UEFA meeting in Nyon. It was here that the DFB first showcased the brochure and the “1-0 für ein Wilkommen” initiative.