The story appears on

Page A16

March 21, 2015

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

HomeSportsSoccer

FIFA triples World Cup player compensation

FIFA said yesterday it will pay more than US$415 million for players who take part in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, with most of the cash going to top European clubs.

The European Club Association said it will also get a bigger say on dates for internationals under the new accord with the global governing body which the ECA chief called a “milestone” for club power.

The accord could end European demands for compensation for changing the dates of the 2022 Qatar World Cup to November-December.

It was announced one day after FIFA fixed December 18 as the date of the 2022 World Cup final — at the height of the European season.

FIFA will hand over US$209 million to clubs with players on duty for each of the next two World Cups, under the deal signed by FIFA President Sepp Blatter and ECA chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of Bayern Munich. The figure is three times the US$70 million paid out by FIFA to clubs after the 2014 World Cup.

As three quarters of the players at the Brazil tournament were under contract with European clubs, the payments went mainly to Europe.

“We are taking a huge step forward in promoting relations between FIFA and the clubs in a spirit of mutual and constructive cooperation,” said Blatter in a statement announcing the accord which lifts another obstacle to a smooth World Cup in Qatar.

Blatter had at first rejected demands for compensation made by the ECA after a FIFA working group called for the Qatar World Cup to be moved to the winter months because of the scorching summer temperatures in the Gulf state.

But Blatter and Rummenigge have since held talks on increasing the payments for players called on World Cup duty.

“In serious and fair negotiations, the ECA has agreed with FIFA on a transparent economic and organizational cooperation until 2022,” Rummenigge commented.

“For the first time, the European clubs will have a direct say on the international match calendar, which was very important to me personally.”


 

Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

娌叕缃戝畨澶 31010602000204鍙

Email this to your friend