The German Football League (DFL) is donating one million euros to the people of war-torn Ukraine while trying to crack down on the propaganda of the Russian state media. The DFL Presidium made a corresponding decision on Thursday.
The donation includes all income that is still planned for the current season through the contract with the Russian media company Match TV – and from which the DFL says “does not want to benefit in the current situation”. At the same time, an extraordinary termination of the contract will initially be waived so that the “anti-war calls and appeals for peace from the German stadiums can continue to reach the Russian population”.
The prerequisite for this is that Match TV broadcasts the basic signal provided by the DFL unchanged on the coming match day and beyond – including Ukraine-related messages from the league, players, clubs and fans.
The DFL “will carefully check the broadcast of the Bundesliga transmissions in this regard”. If the “TV base signal were repeatedly censored, this would result in an extraordinary termination by the DFL”.
In the event that no more license payments are received from Russia, the donation will be borne entirely by the DFL. The sum will be made available to aid organizations.
The DFL had condemned the Russian attack in the strongest possible terms – and recommended a minute’s silence at the games in the Bundesliga and the 2nd division last weekend. Clubs and players have also carried out numerous activities of their own, with more planned for the weekend.
With a view to the upcoming match day, the DFL will display the logo of the Bundesliga and the second division as a sign of solidarity in the national colors of Ukraine in the international basic signal as well as on its own digital platforms. Appropriate graphic elements were also sent to the national media partners for use.
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