February 5 – Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia has added a special clause to player contacts, starting this month, that will oblige them to participate in charitable causes.
Called the ‘CSKA Foundation’ clause, players have 30 days to chose a charity that they will then work with. Last year, the club created the ‘CSKA Foundation’ which supports a number of different initiatives from socially responsible projects to charitable causes. Players will pick from the list of CSKA Foundation causes.
“Charity is included as a mandatory requirement in the contracts of CSKA players,” said a club statement.
“Realizing the responsibility of the CSKA phenomenon to society, we believe that every football player, regardless of where they come from, must adhere to the understandings and virtues that have become the philosophy of the club. Charity, empathy, the desire to help and make someone happy have long been a mission of CSKA, which has repeatedly proven that it is more than a team, the statement continued.
“Now, through the CSKA Foundation clause, each of our players will be involved in a cause of their choice, for which they will commit to be an ambassador and take care. We are sure that for each of these boys, there is an initiative that they accept and would gladly support. They realize that they must be role models for all those children, fans, and bystanders who follow their development far from only on the pitch.”
Within the 30-day window the players must both choose their cause and begin activities with them.
The club said that their players “took the idea to heart”, with every player signing up for the foundation.
“It’s time to move to the next level and be an example for everyone else. Because goodness is contagious,” said the club.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Kraassimirov, at moc.l1738745206labto1738745206ofdlr1738745206owedi1738745206sni@o1738745206fni1738745206