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Man Explains Why He Set Up Crowdfunder For Crying German Girl As Campaign Hits £25K

Man Explains Why He Set Up Crowdfunder For Crying German Girl As Campaign Hits £25K

In a thread on Twitter, he explained it was about much more than consoling the girl after her football team lost

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

The man who set up a JustGiving campaign for the young German football fan seen crying after the squad's Euro 2020 defeat against England this week has explained why he did it - as the campaign hits a whopping £25,000.

In the crowdfunder's description, Joel Hughes said the comments on social media about the 'photo of an upset little girl' were 'horrible'.

However, many people felt confused about where the money would be going, or why Hughes had decided to set up the campaign - with some commenting to say it was 'getting out of hand' as the total raised hit £25,000.

JustGiving

In a thread on Twitter, Hughes explained it was about much more than consoling the girl after her football team lost.

He wrote: "This shouldn't have to be said but here goes... The campaign is NOT just about a little girl crying because her team lost a football match.

Joel set up the JustGiving page as a gesture of goodwill.
Supplied

"It is about: calling out vile online social media abuse; trying to add a voice of positivity into these increasingly intolerant times; intolerant, divisive times that are actively encouraged by our shambolic gov; show the world and our European friends and neighbours that the highly visible, and highly vocal negative minority in the UK do *not* represent us all. And that there is goodwill left."



On JustGiving, Hughes had explained how an '[unsavoury] element of social media piled in on this photo of an upset little girl'.

He continued: "Yes, there are more people affected by this than just this little girl but hey, this is just meant to be a token of goodwill. Yes there are other potential good causes - but I've picked this.

"I'd like to think that the parents of the little girl will spend this on a nice treat for her so that she knows that not everyone from the UK is horrible and that we care.

"No, I don't think this will change the world. But it can do one thing for that little girl.

"No, I don't know who the girl is (yet) but I know social media can sort that out."

In an update posted yesterday, he said he had 'some strong leads' on contacting the girl's family, and was 'in connection with some German journalists'.

Hughes added: "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."

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: Viral, SPORT, News, Football, Euro 2020