(Reuters) – The Polish Football Association (PZPN) has announced a fund of more than $450,000 to help clubs affected by severe floods in central Europe, the worst deluge the hit the region in two decades.
At least 24 people have died due to the floods, including seven in Poland, with Wroclaw, Poland’s third-largest city, facing widespread damage.
“Together with the presidents of the provincial associations, we have decided to donate 1.75 million Polish zloty to help the clubs affected by the flood,” PZPN president Cezary Kulesza wrote on X on Friday.
Top-flight club Slask Wroclaw postponed Monday’s home game against Stal Mielec and turned their stadium into a place for collecting donations for those affected by the floods.
The club also launched a fundraiser for flood relief, while players and coaches visited flood-affected areas to distribute essential items.
The European Union has pledged to make billions of euros available to help the region, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk saying the country could get 5 billion euros ($5.59 billion).
($1 = 3.8217 zlotys)
($1 = 0.8950 euros)
(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Alex Richardson)