April 27 – FIFA is dishing out $150 million to its 211 member associations over the next few days in the first stage of a relief effort to help them handle the financial impact of the coronavirus.
Each member association will be receiving $500,000 soon as well as any remaining entitlement over the past two years, including development money.
Keen to avoid the charges of corruption that have dogged them in recent years, FIFA said that the money must be used “to mitigate the impact of Covid-19” and to “meet financial or operational obligations “ and that the funds would be audited to ensure they are spent properly.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino described the payment as the first step in a “far-reaching financial relief plan”.
“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,” said Infantino.
“This starts by providing immediate financial assistance to our member associations, many of which are experiencing severe financial distress.”
FIFA will announce the next stage of the plan in the near future but given its $2.7 billion reserves can be expected to hand out another tranche of funding.
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