In public opinion, football is very often perceived as the most individualistic team sport in the world and footballers as billionaires disconnected from society. If the sums of money paid to the best players on the planet remain disproportionate, the new generation does not hesitate to distribute assists off the field despite its discretion on the subject.
“We talk about it much less, but alongside their astronomical salaries, many footballers give their time and money to associations and get involved in charitable causes, explains Jean-Baptiste Guégan, specialist in the geopolitics of sport and co-author of the book “Mbappé Revolution”. Alongside his association “Inspired by KM”, which aims to promote the success of 98 young children, Kylian Mbappé has for example already donated very large sums to the Abbé Pierre Foundation, to help particularly vulnerable homeless people, but he has not spoken publicly on the subject.”.
Blood donation: the Red Devil Amadou Onana is calling on you
Through his societal commitment, the captain of the Blues has surely become the leader of a new generation of players who care about others and who are committed on several fronts. On the side of the Red Devils, Kevin De Bruyne, for example, has multiplied charitable campaigns for works like Make-A-Wishan internationally recognized association for its mission to fulfill the wishes of seriously ill children and adolescents, but also during the covid pandemic where it helped raise funds to help those seriously affected by the pandemic.
guillementOur country is facing a blood shortage, we must remain united beyond the field by supporting the Red Cross.”
“They actually prefer that these actions remain off the radar”
In the same vein, Jan Vertonghen launched his foundation following a visit to the VUmc hospital in Amsterdam where there was a play city that the hospital built, on its two upper floors, for the purpose of his patients. “The spectacle of all these seriously ill children who, among the toys, stuffed animals and games, rediscovered the carefreeness of childhood, did not leave me indifferent, confides the Red Devil on its website. So I decided to dedicate myself to it one day.”
The Jan Vertonghen Foundation was created on the occasion of its hundredth international meeting and now ensures that children in each Belgian hospital are always encouraged to get the best out of themselves and feel accepted and connected to the Company. Concretely, the association organizes fun activities annually for sick, disabled and deprived children, and wishes to encourage as many children as possible to play, move and be creative. We want to get the best out of each of them, because each child is unique.
His injuries, the Ballon d’Or, Jérémy Doku and the Euro, De Bruyne confides: “My hamstrings were like a paper towel… wet”
This commitment, more or less publicized, also serves the image of a discipline often completely out of step with the economic realities experienced by most fans. The other area in which our footballers engage is racism, it must be said that sport is unfortunately no exception.
After having paid the price, Axel Witsel became the godfather of the “Stop Racism in Sport” association created by his father Thierry Witsel, through which he implements concrete actions to fight against this phenomenon which he explains above all by a lack of education. Last year, Romelu Lukaku received the Prize of Merit, during the Ebony Shoe ceremony where he was honored for “his social and humanitarian actions”.
“Players are increasingly donating and spending time for charitable causes even though this is often not well publicized, believes Pierre Cornez, spokesperson for the Belgian Union. They prefer that these actions remain off the radar but the fact remains that they defend noble causes off the field. If players are free to get involved in the struggles that affect them the most, three years ago the Union launched the action plan called “Come Together” against discrimination and racism..
Aware of the lack of blood donations in Belgium, Amadou Onana has not gone out of his way in recent months to call the “Belgians make a difference. It helps save lives. Our country is facing a blood shortage, let’s stay united beyond the field and support the Red Cross”he explained on his Instagram account.
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For a day, the Everton player acted as an ambassador for the Red Cross after a discussion with his sister and agent Mélissa, cured of cancer but suffering from sickle cell anemia (a disease affecting red blood cells). The player would also like to get more involved in causes that are close to his heart so that associations take advantage of his notoriety to convey messages that are important to him.
