THREE LIONS supporters have donated tens of thousands of pounds for a tearful young Germany fan spotted sobbing after her nation’s Euros loss to England.
Generous fans opened their wallets after Welshman Joel Hughes created a JustGiving page for the girl whose reaction to Joachim Low’s team’s exit was cruelly ridiculed.
And they have since donated more than £26,000 – far exceeding the initial £500 target – ahead of England’s quarter-final battle with Ukraine.
Some attendees at the last-16 clash between England and Germany were seen cheering as footage of the young supporter crying was broadcast across screens after the match.
Gary Lineker and Stan Collymore were among the football stars who criticised the taunts directed towards the girl pictured wearing a Germany shirt.
Collymore shared an emotive post on Twitter featuring pictures of sickening tweets posted by trolls who were mocking the distressed fan.
In the accompanying caption the former Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Liverpool ace wrote “no words needed”.
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And Burnley fan Alistair Campbell, who served as press secretary to former prime minister Tony Blair, lambasted the behaviour of supporters who engaged in mocking the young girl.
He tweeted: “Grace in defeat is a very special quality. Grace in victory ought to be a lot easier.”
Sports fan Hughes, who came across Collymore’s message, decided to set up the JustGiving page for the Germany fan as an act of goodwill.
The Welshman felt compelled to show that “not everyone from the UK is horrible”.
In an interview with Nation Cymru he said: “I can’t stand seeing that kind of bullying online.”
And he gave an update on his JustGiving page on Friday followed by two more today thanking fans for their “amazing efforts”.
He also pledged to give all the money raised to a suitable charity if the young Germany fan’s family decide not to contact him.
Hughes wrote: “Thanks for the awesome support! I’ve not contacted the parents yet but I have had some strong leads and I’m in connection with some German journalists.
“I’m going to come up with a cut off date after which this campaign will end.
“Then, if I’m in contact with the family, they shall get all the funds.
“If not, all funds will go to a suitable charity. I would prefer the former but hey ho – having some good come out of this is the main point.”
In a message on the page today Hughes added: “To the family of the little girl, I can *completely* understand if you do not want to get in touch, given the publicity.
“All I can say is this: if you can make contact with a trusted organisation that can mediate on your behalf, we can have a private dialogue as to your wishes.
“Failing that, I intend for all monies raised to go to a relevant good cause.”
Hughes’ kind-hearted efforts come ahead of the mouthwatering quarter-final clash between Gareth Southgate’s players and Ukraine.
Should England triumph they will set up a semi-final duel with either Denmark or the Czech Republic.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
