World Cup winners to pocket US$30m
Source: Agencies |
December 5, 2009, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE winners of next year's World Cup final in South Africa will collect a check for US$30 million, FIFA said.
The runners-up will receive US$24 million and all participating teams will receive an extra US$1 million to cover their preparation costs.
The decision was announced after FIFA's Executive Committee met on Robben Island, the former prison island where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years under the apartheid regime.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter and secretary general Jerome Valcke addressed some 250 media representatives taken by ferry from Cape Town to Robben Island, where the announcement on Thursday was made in the stone-floored former prison hall.
Valcke said the total prize money available to the 32 finalists would be US$420 million, up 61 percent from the US$261.4 million in 2006.
The semifinalists would win US$20 million, the quarterfinalists US$18 million, second-round losers US$9 million and those eliminated at the group stage US$8 million.
Valcke said FIFA would also provide US$40 million for clubs whose players took part in the tournament.
"Every club who has a player at the World Cup will receive US$1,600 per day, per player," Valcke said.
"The money will be paid 15 days before the start of the tournament and to one day after the players' participation in the World Cup ends."
The money will be paid to clubs through their national associations and, as part of the package, clubs have agreed not to pursue claims for any possible compensation through civil courts but only through FIFA or CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Blatter said Robben Island was a significant choice of venue for FIFA.
"Robben Island plays an important part in the story of humanity and this is a significant day for FIFA.
"Robben Island is linked to the story of a revolution by young people in a political system where they had no access.
"When people talk about Robben Island they naturally talk about Nelson Mandela but others were involved like South African president Jacob Zuma who refereed matches here played by prisoners.
"He has now been promoted to the position of honorary referee by FIFA."
FIFA decided to keep its existing Olympic rules for the 2012 London Games, which means that qualifying teams must use players under 23 years old with the exception of three over-age players.
It also ratified the suspension of Iraq from all international soccer because of government interference in the running of the sport.
Ireland won't get a cent, however, after losing in the playoffs when a Henry handball set up a vital equalizer for France.
Blatter said that paying Ireland would lead to more countries demanding compensation for incorrect referees decisions. But he is considering some kind of special award for the unlucky Irish.
"If you start to compensate teams that are not qualified then there are others that are coming too," the FIFA president said.
"But when it comes to this final match where all the world saw the obvious foul play, then there may be moral compensation. We will have a look at that."
Asked what he meant by moral compensation, Blatter said it could be a special award or a prize.
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