Clubs frustrated over wait for Fifa to share 185m of Club World Cup money

"Frustration is growing among clubs globally at the extended wait for 185m of solidarity payments promised by Fifa on the back of last summer's Club World Cup. Clubs that did not participate in the tournament were promised a share of the sum, designed to ensure a proportion of the event's funding was distributed throughout the football pyramid. If shared equally it would amount to about 50,000 for every top-flight club in the world"

"but, more than seven months after the Club World Cup's conclusion, there is no sign of the money and no timescale for its distribution. The Guardian understands Fifa is yet to determine how the money will be allocated. There is no suggestion that the windfall will go unpaid but clubs in smaller leagues are growing particularly impatient. The 740m set aside as prize money is understood to have been released; the winners, Chelsea, are thought to have earned about 84m."

"In comparison the solidarity sum may seem a drop in the ocean but, to those in less glamorous settings, the cash injection would make a significant difference. An executive from one of Europe's smaller leagues told the Guardian that there had been no clear answers about when their clubs will be paid despite continued inquiries. In environments where domestic television rights deals are increasingly precarious, and in certain cases nonexistent, a five-figure windfall has the potential to be a lifeline."

Fifa promised 185m in solidarity payments from the Club World Cup to clubs that did not participate. If distributed equally the sum would be about 50,000 per top-flight club worldwide. More than seven months after the tournament there is no sign of the money and no timetable, with Fifa yet to determine allocation. Smaller-league clubs are growing impatient. The 740m set aside as prize money has been released, with winners Chelsea estimated to have earned about 84m. Many clubs say a five-figure windfall could be a lifeline where domestic TV rights are precarious. Fifa has been in dialogue with the European clubs' body, which agreed roughly 13% of revenue for solidarity payments.

Read at www.theguardian.com