World football body FIFA says the operational costs entitlement for member associations for 2019; would be used to pay its members, as part of efforts to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
The statement clears the air against widespread belief that FIFA actually donated a fresh $500,000 to each member association; outside the yearly operational costs due to them.
FIFA announced on its website on Friday that it would release operational funding; due to member associations for the years 2019 and 2020.
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The move means that a total of around $150m will be distributed among the 211 national football governing bodies around the world.
Each national governing body, including the Nigeria Football Federation, will receive $500,000; which FIFA says will deliver upon fulfillment of specific criteria.
According to the world football body, it will use his immediate financial assistance to mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19, on football in member associations, namely to meet financial or operational obligations; that they may have towards staff and other third parties.
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In a statement FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura signed dated April 24; the football body stated that it was actively examining the tools and options; available that could help to alleviate the financial distress in the most effective and measured way possible.
Samoura stated, “While we continue to work on the broader financial relief programme,; a concrete first step, as part of this ongoing process, has been the development of a set of unique measures in the context of Forward 2.0. These measures proposed to provide some immediate financial support to our members; while it currently worked and finalised the other aspects of the relief programme.
“Any remaining entitlement to operational costs as defined under article 6 paragraph 3 (b) of the Forward 2.0; Release regulations in full for 2019 and 2020. In particular, we will forward the release of the second installment of operational costs for 2020; from the July payment date as specified in the Regulations.
“This funding should aim at mitigating the financial impact of COVID-19 on football in member associations. The standard obligations and responsibilities in relation to the use of these funds; as outlined in the Forward Regulations 2.0 remain fully applicable (e.g. avoidance of the use of cash, maintenance of all supporting documentation, etc.); and will be subject to the standard audit and reporting process.”
