AS Roma is combining football with solidarity in a Champions League night. The Giallorossi will take to the pitch in Istanbul against Fenerbahçe wearing a special shirt to support victims of the devastating floods in Nepal.
The team, which sits first in the league with 9 points from three games, announced the initiative in partnership with the World Food Programme. The match shirts will feature the phrase 'Together for Nepal' and the logo of the UN food programme. The shirts worn during the match will later be auctioned, with all proceeds donated in full to the WFP for relief efforts on the ground.
The charitable initiative
"AS Roma and the WFP are joining forces to support the people of Nepal, who have been severely affected by the floods and landslides impacting the country," the club said in a statement. The catastrophic event has claimed over 1,300 confirmed lives, with around 5,000 people still missing in Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot regions and China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Scientists attribute the disaster to the effects of climate change and a collapsed mountain glacier.
Roma's initiative is part of a broader show of attention from the football world. A minute of silence was observed for the victims at all Champions League matches this week, while stadium screens displayed messages of support. Other clubs, including Arsenal, have also mobilised their foundations to contribute to relief efforts.
The sporting context
The choice of a special shirt for the Turkish trip was also help by a regulatory circumstance. Roma were unable to display the logo of its main betting sponsor due to a ban in force in Turkey, thus creating space for this message of solidarity. The team arrives at the fixture following a 1-1 draw at the same venue, with Bryan Cristante's 39th-minute goal.
With the league resuming on Sunday away to Torino, the Giallorossi look at the standings where they lead with 10 goals scored and only one conceded. The next Serie A commitment is an important test. The absence of the injured Manu Koné will need to be managed in the busy schedule.
The auction of the special shirts is the final piece of a concrete commitment. The funds raised will go directly to the World Food Programme, which is operating in the region to provide emergency food assistance to affected communities. The match in Istanbul will be played on Thursday night.
