Virgil van Dijk will present the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with a cheque for €100,000 ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League round of 16 tie against Bayern Munich this evening.
Van Dijk has been chosen to help UEFA unveil a new cause to reunite families caught up in armed conflicts as he was named in UEFA.com Fans’ Team of the Year 2018.
The Netherlands defender will receive the cheque from Michele Uva, the UEFA vice-president, before presenting it to the ICRC’s Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Martin Schüepp.
“At the moment we are looking for more than 100,000 missing people worldwide,” said Schüepp. “Reconnecting families is as important to our humanitarian mission as providing food, shelter or water.
“We work in situations of armed conflict, other situations of violence and migration across the world, and we frequently hear that people’s absolute priority is to find out if their loved ones are safe.
“UEFA is an important partner and knowing this donation will help reunite families torn apart by conflict and violence is encouraging to continue this essential work as well as the partnership with UEFA.”
Van Dijk, who helped Liverpool reach last season’s Champions League final, added: “I think it’s really important because I don’t think too many other organisations are doing this and I believe it’s a good project to support.
“Family is the most important thing in the world – at the end of the day you want to be together, you want to be with your family. The kids want to be with their fathers and likewise with their mothers. It’s special that the ICRC is doing this and we should definitely encourage people to help.”
“I can’t imagine not being able to see my kids or that they could be somewhere where you don’t even know where they are. I can’t imagine and hopefully I won’t ever have to imagine that, but as I said, it is very special that the ICRC is helping these families.”
UEFA has been a partner of the ICRC for over 20 years, with European football’s governing body donating more than €3.5million to assist disadvantaged people around the world.
After the presentation of the cheque, Van Dijk will take his place in the Anfield stands as he is suspended for tonight’s first leg clash against Bayern Munich.