By Paul Nicholson
November 2 – UEFA shared an eye-opening €1.345 billion between 42 clubs last season, an increase of €315 million on the previous season. Top of the table of high earning clubs were semi-final losers Manchester City (€83.8 million), Real Madrid CF (€80 million), Juventus (€76.2 million) and Paris Saint-Germain (€70.8 million).
The numbers will do little to heal the rift between UEFA and many of its member associations, as well as the European Football League assocation, over incoming new rules that will guarantee the top four clubs in the top four leagues automatic entry to the group stages, as well as the European Club Association (ECA) a seat at the commercial table with a newly formed body that will decide on rights and revenue distribution.
The ECA received €4.17 million from the prize fund, as part of a memorandum of understanding with UEFA.
Money is allocated via a minimum payment for participation (€3 million) with further money for every group stage win or draw followed by knockout round payments of €5.5 million for last 16 qualification, €6 million for quarter finals, and €7 million for semi-finals. The winners receive €15 million and the losing finalists €10.5 million.
On top of this there is an allocation of market pool money divided principally according to the proportional value of the national TV market from where the club comes. Clubs that come markets with from big TV spending broadcasters will receive more than those whose broadcasters don’t spend so much.
While Man City topped the money distribution list overall, Premier League clubs combined earned the most for any country. Chelsea (€69.17 million), Arsenal (€53.42 million) and Manchester United (€38.13 million) combined with Man City for a Premier League total of €244.57 million.
Second highest in the league stakes was La Liga with a combined €233.87 million (Real Madrid €80.67m; Atletico Madrid €69.66m; Barcelona €56.55m). Next game Germany’s Bundesliga with a combined €218.51 million (Bayern Munich €64.39m; Wolfsburg €50.29m; Borussia Munchengladbach €27.16; Bayer Leverkusen €26.67m).
Italy were fourth in the league ranking with its three Serie A clubs generating a combined €168.51 million (Juventus €76.25m; Roma €68.46m; Lazio €13.8m). Under UEFA’s incoming four qualifier regulations Italy looks like it will benefit the most.
Taking the top four leagues together, these 15 clubs already account for €865.86 million of the €1.345 billion allocated to the 42 that took part in the competition – about 64% of the total.
UEFA said: “The figures in the table do not include solidarity payments to any of the clubs participating in the qualifying rounds, totalling €77m, nor do they include any additional solidarity payments made to leagues for club youth development projects, totalling €120m.”
But they do include €32.95 million for Greece’s Olympiacos who many argue should not have been allowed to compete at all.
View the full list of club payments at http://www.uefa.com//MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/41/82/55/2418255_DOWNLOAD.pdf
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