German Football Federation to prolong refugee support programme

Berlin: The German Football Federation (DFB) has extended a campaign to help refugees for a further three years until 2019, DFB announced on Friday.

The programme, christened "1-0 for a welcome", is an initiative that involves 600 participating football clubs helping refugees.

The clubs, who joined the original two-year initiative back in March, are awarded 500 euros by the DFB for implementing measures in favour of refugees.

"Small clubs all over the country are offering new arrivals a parcel of their new patrimony," said DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach, who promised to increase the initial 600,000-euro ($677,000) budget.

Several clubs in Germany`s top flight have already set up initiatives to help the refugees arriving in the country.

Bayern Munich have pledged a million euros and offered to set up a coaching camp, offering food and German lessons to children of refugees in the Bavarian capital.

Germany`s World Cup winners also appeared in a video holding up signs condemning violence and calling for "respect", "help", "integration" and "fair play" towards any refugee arriving in Germany.

Europe`s biggest economy this year expects a record 800,000 asylum applications, more than any other European Union country.