Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin joins Juan Mata's Common Goal charity project

Ceferin, who became the president of Uefa last year, has joined Manchester United midfielder Mata's Common Goal project by pledging one per cent of his salary to charity

Aleksander Ceferin has joined the Common Goal project (Getty)

Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin has announced that he will pledge 1% of his salary to Juan Mata's Common Goal scheme and called on everyone in football to donate to worthwhile causes.

More than thirty players – including Mats Hummels, Giorgio Chiellini, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Vero Boquete, Serge Gnabry, Shinji Kagawa and coach Julian Nagelsmann – have already publicly announced their support for the movement over the last few weeks, but Ceferin has become the first major football administrator to join.

Commenting on his decision to add his support to the Common Goal movement, which funds high-impact football charities from all over the world, Ceferin said: “I firmly believe that football has the power to change the world and I was inspired by Juan Mata to join the Common Goal movement.

“It’s great to see a player leading this movement because footballers have benefitted greatly from football and this way they can give something back.

“I call upon everyone in the football family - players, coaches, clubs and leagues - to show they care about social responsibility and donate to causes that they believe in.”

Following on from the Uefa President, Juan Mata added: “I deeply thank Aleksander for the trust he puts in Common Goal and I can only applaud his gestureand agree with his strong conviction that football can help shape a better world.

“He is the first football leader to join our cause and I truly hope that many will follow his example.”