GERMAN club Bayern Munich pledged yesterday to donate €1 million to refugee projects and provide German classes and hot meals to victims of the ongoing crisis.

Germany is currently experiencing its largest influx of refugees from war-torn countries and the German champions have promised to help those in need with various projects over the next few weeks.

The club will host football training camps via their youth system while supplying equipment, food and German lessons.

Last weekend, various supporters across Germany held up signs in solidarity saying: “Refugees welcome,” while Borussia Dortmund handed out 200 tickets to refugees for a Europa League home match.

The gesture was also replicated by second division sides Fortuna Dusseldorf & Dynamo Dresden, who gave away 450 tickets each.

Similar welcoming signs could be seen at English non-league clubs FC United of Manchester, Dulwich Hamlet, Kingstonian and Clapton FC last weekend, with Bayern supporters displaying a sign saying: “Stirring up hatred against broke Greeks and refugees. The problem is called racism.”

At Bayern’s next home game, to be played after the international break, the players will enter the field with a German and refugee child in each hand — to send a message of integration for the future.

A friendly will also be played, with the money raised going to various refugee projects.

Club president Karl Heinz Rummenigge said: “Bayern has a social responsibility to help the refugees, needy children, women and men, to help them and to assist them in Germany.”

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann praised Bayern’s work, saying: “This is a great and exemplary action that I very much welcome and support — it’s another great sign of the helpfulness and welcoming culture in our country.”

The city of Munich will also be assisting in the project, with mayor Dieter Reiter saying: “Bayern is sending an important message and I am pleased with the strong commitment of the association.”

Hours after Bayern’s announcement, Aston Villa and Swindon Town fans said they will hold up a “Refugees welcome” banner when they travel to Leicester while Celtic promised to donate a share of the proceedings raised from Jock Stein’s 30th anniversary events last weekend.

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “Having seen the effects of this humanitarian crisis unfold in recent days, we felt as a club we should help in any way we can.

“Celtic was established as a football club to help people in need and this ethos remains a fundamental part of our club almost 130 years after our formation.

“None of us can understand the true horrors of this situation but as a club we wanted to show our support for those affected.”