Fifa to pay clubs $209m for releasing players

Zurich: Fifa has agreed to pay clubs worldwide $209 million (Dh767 million) for releasing players to the World Cup in 2018 and in 2022.

The deal with the 214-member European Club Association announced on Friday almost triples the $70 million Fifa shared among clubs from 2014 World Cup revenues.

It also settles the issue of possible compensation from Fifa for moving the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to November-December.

Fifa said the working accord — extending one which expired last year — gives the ECA more involvement in other decisions affecting club football.

“We are taking a huge step forward in promoting relations between Fifa and the clubs in a spirit of mutual and constructive cooperation,” Fifa President Sepp Blatter said in a statement.

Clubs receive money on a daily rate for as long as players are on national team duty and involved in a tournament.

The new accord also extends a Fifa insurance program that pays the club salary of players injured while with national teams.

That project cost Fifa $88 million in the last four-year World Cup cycle.

Uefa is playing €150 million (Dh590 million) to clubs for releasing players to the 2016 European Championship.