AS Roma-Shakhtar Donetsk: The initiatives promoted by the Club to support the people of Ukraine

AS Roma continues to support the Ukrainian population: the club will use the power of this Sunday’s pre-season home match against Shakhtar Donetsk to reinforce the Giallorossi’s ongoing commitment to help those displaced by persecution or war worldwide.

Once again, the club will use the power of sport to support the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with its actions both on the pitch and off it - as it has previously done in response to both the Afghan and Ukrainian refugee crises.

For Sunday’s game at the Stadio Olimpico, the UNHCR logo will once again be printed on the shirts worn by the first-team players - together with a yellow and blue heart in support of the club’s Ukrainian opposition.

Four of the match-worn jerseys will be then signed and auctioned off - with all proceeds going towards supporting the UN organisation’s ongoing humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.

The initiatives do not stop there. To underline the club’s full support for Sunday’s guests, the ticket revenue from the sold-out match will be donated to Shakhtar – and specifically to their ‘Shelter Center Arena Lviv’ project.

The project has seen the city’s football stadium converted into an emergency shelter for hundreds of refugees of the ongoing crisis: providing food, medical treatment, childcare support and much more to those in need.

In addition, using sport as a tool to support social inclusion and strengthen social cohesion, ahead of the showpiece game on Sunday a total of 23 promising Ukrainian footballers, all of whom are currently being hosted by L'Aquila Calcio, will participate in a special training session at Roma’s training centre in Trigoria.

These up-and-coming players, along with 60 other Ukrainian children currently being housed in Rome after being displaced by the war, will then attend the friendly match at the Olimpico as special guests of the club.

A further 25 Ukrainian children will accompany the players as they walk out onto the pitch before the game, while 200 tickets have also been distributed among Ukrainian refugees in Rome, following a collaboration with the Ukrainian Embassy in the Italian capital.

The escalation of the conflict in Ukraine has displaced thousands of victims and destroyed countless civilian infrastructures, leading many more to flee their homes in search of safety, protection and support.

Millions of refugees have crossed borders to neighbouring countries, with 90% of these being women and children. while many others have been forced to flee elsewhere within Ukraine. Countless families have been uprooted and have lost everything.

UNHCR works on many fronts to assist in crisis situations: providing direct economic assistance but also helping to source, purchase and distribute basic necessities including blankets, mattresses and emergency supplies. The organisation also runs emergency shelters for those needing safety and support.

The global organisation has created a special landing page where all Roma fans can donate to help those who have fled the situation in Ukraine.

Fans can donate at the link below.