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FIFA is releasing around $150m to its national associations whose finances have been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\nFIFA is releasing around $150m to its national associations whose finances have been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
The FAI has welcomed the news, saying it will get the second FIFA installment of its “normal funding for designated FAI programs two months ahead of schedule”.<\/p>\n
The FAI said: “The Association also welcomes FIFA\u2019s announcement that this early payment is the first step of a far-reaching financial relief plan for world football in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.”<\/p>\n
The game\u2019s world governing body said each of its 211 member countries would receive $500,000 in the coming days plus any entitlement under the Forward 2.0 development program.<\/p>\n
FIFA president Gianni Infantino described it as the \u201cfirst step\u201d in a wider plan to assist those struggling due to the Covid-19 outbreak.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges for the entire football community and, as the world governing body, it is FIFA\u2019s duty to be there and support the ones that are facing acute needs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
FIFA said the money represented operational funding for 2019 and 2020. Under normal circumstances, the associations would only receive full funding upon fulfillment of specific criteria such as the organisation of a set number of men\u2019s, women\u2019s and youth competitions, but was providing it to protect its members.<\/p>\n
The English Football Association announced earlier this month that it could lose up to $185 (\u00a3150m) as a result of the pandemic. It has implemented wage cuts, initially for the next three months, with its top earners including England manager Gareth Southgate sacrificing 30 per cent of their salary.<\/p>\n
FIFA said the next stages of its financial relief plan are being worked on and would be communicated in due course.<\/p>\n
Tranmere chairman and former FA chief executive Mark Palios told the PA news agency last month that the English Football League should look to tap into the FIFA fund.<\/p>\n
Clubs in the EFL are facing severe financial difficulties because of the loss of matchday revenue and in many cases have furloughed staff under the British Government\u2019s coronavirus job retention scheme.<\/p>\n
Palios, who is a member of the EFL\u2019s financial working group, said: \u201cIf FIFA has raised some kind of fund like this, then yes we would like to get our fair share of it into the EFL.\u201d<\/p>\n
FIFA is reported to have cash reserves of around $2.7bn (\u00a32.18bn).<\/p>\n