LOU MACARI expects action from the Premier League’s multi-millionaire stars.
He believes it is their moral duty to start emptying out their vast pockets to help the nation’s battle against the coronavirus.
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Lou Macari is urging footballers to donate some of their large salaries to the fight against coronavirusCredit: Matthew Pover/Matthew Pover Limited.
The Manchester United and Celtic legend made the plea from his own frontline.
Macari, 70, continues to put himself in harm’s way to run the Lou Macari Centre for the homeless in the Hanley area of Stoke.
Right now, the place is full to bursting with all 51 places taken up.
So this week he and his staff were delighted to take delivery of loads of food, milk and soft drinks — all donated by local firms after Boris Johnson ruled restaurants and bars must shut as part of the national lockdown to tackle Covid-19.
Ex-striker Macari declared: “Once more we are seeing typical thought and generosity from people who have always tried to help us here.
“We often get donations, like we did this week from the local Starbucks, Costa Coffee and Nando’s.
“But what I’m not seeing is Premier League footballers doing much of anything to help the coronavirus cause. I noticed the other day one player had donated something like £40,000 and that was a nice gesture.
“But they should ALL be doing it. A figure of £40,000 or £50,000 would be nothing to players earning vast sums of money. Nothing. They wouldn’t even feel it.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi have each donated almost £1million to help causes in Spain during the pandemic.
Macari wants to see the same sort of financial help coming from England’s top players.
He said: “I’m not talking about them giving money to my place — not that it wouldn’t help.
“I’m talking about donating for the greater good of society, down the line, to help people who will suffer long after the coronavirus is either contained or goes away.
“We have had help from Port Vale, which is very welcome and appreciated.
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“Somehow we will get through this here although things are going to get tougher the longer the lockdown continues because the food donations are bound to dwindle.
“But the country as a whole needs all the help it can get.
“Premier League footballers are rich beyond most people’s wildest dreams and it would be so easy for them to put their hands in their pockets to help their communities.”
The Government will shortly ask all of those aged 70 and above to self-isolate for up to four months.
But Macari, who works day and night at the centre he opened four years ago, will carry on regardless of his own safety.
He explained: “I am classed as a care worker so I will not be in the category of those who will be told to stay indoors.
“And anyway, there is too much work to be done at the centre.
“It was difficult enough before. Homelessness — brought on by the likes of drink, drugs, mental problems and abuse against women — is a virus in its own right.
“The lockdown adds new problems for us.
“Let’s say things have been getting ‘interesting’ at times in here, especially when there is no football to watch. Football helps give them focus and lightens up the place.
“We, of course, respect the lockdown and we are telling everybody to stay indoors but it’s difficult — some of them just have to get out for a while or there would be madness around here.”
Macari has become very much an expert on homelessness.
And he warns the damaging effects of the coronavirus crisis will force more people out on to the streets down the line.
He even fears that one day, and not that long into the future, he might even have former players knocking on the doors of his centre.
The ex-Scotland international — who bossed a number of clubs including West Ham, Celtic and Stoke — said: “We already know things are difficult for a lot of ex–players, many of whom already suffer from depression, health and financial problems.
“What is happening in the world will only make life more difficult for them, so I would not be surprised that the knock–on financial implications will have a devastating effect.
“I wouldn’t be shocked to see some of them in here.
“All of which speaks to the fact that with so much money now in the game and being earned by Prem players, you would like to see at least some of it going in to help the fight against coronavirus.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
