FIFA hands out $40 million to clubs
Reuters - Thursday 06 January 2011, 17:24
ZURICH - FIFA is handing out $40 million to
clubs whose players took part in last year's World Cup, though
that may not placate European clubs who have labelled the
fixed-payment system unrealistic.
Bayern Munich have been the most vociferous critics after
their Dutch winger Arjen Robben returned injured from the
tournament in South Africa. He has yet to play for the Bavarian
club this season.
The biggest payout of $866,267 goes to Barcelona, followed
by Bayern Munich ($778,667), Chelsea ($762,667), Liverpool
($695,600) and Real Madrid ($678,133), FIFA said.
European clubs took the lion's share with English clubs
receiving $5,992,533 between them.
The amounts are based on the number of players each club
sent to the World Cup and on the number of days spent at the
tournament.
"We are pleased that we can share the success of the 2010
FIFA World Cup with the clubs by providing them a share of the
benefits of our flagship event, in particular to recognise their
efforts in the development of young players", president Sepp
Blatter said on the FIFA website.
FIFA added that the total would rise from $40 million to $70
million for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil "to recognise the
important part clubs play in the success of the World Cup."
But Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who is president
of the European Clubs' Association, said in September the system
was out of touch with reality and that FIFA needed to set up an
insurance policy.
"For releasing Arjen Robben, I heard we will get something
like 57,000 euros from this $40 million pot but it (his salary)
costs many, many times more," said Rummenigge.
"The world of the top clubs is maybe different to what they
think."
Nearly $2 million was handed out to clubs from Japan, whose
national side were knocked out in the second round, while clubs
from Ghana, who reached the quarter-finals, received only
$222,000 between them.
Clubs from semi-finalists Uruguay, who had only two
home-based players in their squad, received only $186,000.
FIFA said that a total of 400 clubs from 55 countries
received payments.