AusLeisure

World football governing body FIFA has commenced the distribution of US$165 million across its 211 member associations.

The operational funding for 2019 and 2020 will be paid to 211 national governing bodies worldwide in an effort to reduce the impact of the Coronavirus global pandemic.

Each FIFA member association will receive US$785,000, in addition to any other remaining funds they were due to receive, with FIFA indicating a second instalment of operational costs for 2020 was due to be handed out in July, but FIFA will make early payments “to help safeguard football across all member associations.”

Typically, full payment is only usually received if the member associations meet specific criteria, but FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, said FIFA recognised the need to carry out a financial relief plan quickly at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.

Infantino advised "the pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges for the entire football community and, as the world governing body, it is FIFA’s duty to be there and support the ones that are facing acute needs.

“This starts by providing immediate financial assistance to our member associations, many of which are experiencing severe financial distress.

“This is the first step of a far-reaching financial relief plan we are developing to respond to the emergency across the whole football community.

“Together with our stakeholders, we are assessing the losses and we are working on the most appropriate and effective tools to implement the other stages of this relief plan.

“I would like to thank the chairpersons of the FIFA Development Committee, Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, and the FIFA Finance Committee, Alejandro Dominguez, for their commitment and urgent approval of these measures by their committees."

Image: FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

Related Articles

3rd May 2020 - Five people charged in esports investigation

2nd May 2020 - FFA supports measures released for resumption of grassroots and elite sport

1st May 2020 - Coronavirus has multi-billion dollar negative impact on global sport

1st May 2020 - Australians undecided about whether sports competitions should return in 2020

1st May 2020 - China looks to FIFA World Cup hosting with new football stadia

26th April 2020 - Registrations open for SportAccord 2021

24th April 2020 - Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces framework for return of sport

31st March 2020 - Chinese authorities maintain spectator ban for major sports leagues

19th March 2020 - Green Sports Alliance advocates for sport and sustainability

21st April 2020 - New Zealand football clubs benefit from FIFA Women’s World Cup funds

26th February 2020 - 1000 day countdown to Qatar’s FIFA World Cup

24th January 2020 - FIFA delivers sustainability strategy for Qatar 2022 World Cup

16th December 2019 - FIFA to consider four bids to host Women’s World Cup 2023

14th December 2019 - Stadium opening delay prompts change of venue for FIFA Club World Cup 2019

10th December 2019 - World Anti-Doping Agency bans Russia from Tokyo Olympics and 2022 FIFA World Cup

2nd August 2019 - FIFA Council approves expanded 32-team Women’s World Cup for 2023

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.