FC Barcelona shows support for China's COVID-19 fight

Players of FC Barcelona and Getafe shake hands as children from the supporters club "Penya Dracs Units Xinesos pel Barca" stand in front in Camp Nou, Spain, February 15, 2020. /VCG Photo

Spanish football club Barcelona joined the bigger sports world family to show support for China's fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Before their game against Getafe on Saturday, players from both teams walked onto the field holding the hands of children of Chinese origin in solidarity with the Chinese people affected by the virus.

The 22 children, all from the team's Chinese supporters club based in Barcelona, wore T-shirts with the message "Stronger Together" and "China, Stay Strong" in Mandarin.

A dark blue canvas then got unveiled in the center of the field carrying the two slogans.

Players of Barcelona stand in the company of children from the supporters club before the game against Getafe in Camp Nou, Spain, February 15, 2020. /VCG Photo

According to the club's statement, "the slogan 'Stronger Together' attempts to convey that in a globalized world, epidemics like that of the novel coronavirus is something that could happen anywhere and affect anybody on the planet."

"The message being that we have to be united when faced with adversity."

FC Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu, also posted a clip on Chinese social media Weibo where he said "Stay strong, China. Stay strong, Wuhan" in Chinese.

The football club stressed also that it wants to make a stand against the stigmatization and discrimination against Chinese people since the coronavirus appeared.