Fifa to pay clubs $209m for releasing players
Agreement covers World Cups in 2018 and 2022, settles issue over Qatar’s winter event
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.
