FIFA will treble payments to clubs for the next two World Cups, football’s governing body has confirmed.
Clubs will share $209m US dollars (£142m) for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar. They received $70m for Brazil and only $40m in South Africa in 2010.
The agreement was signed by FIFA President Blatter, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke and European Clubs’ Association (ECA) Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Blatter welcomed the agreement, stating, “we are taking a huge step forward in promoting relations between FIFA and the clubs in a spirit of mutual and constructive cooperation”.
The ECA – which had been demanding compensation for moving the 2022 World Cup to the winter – has also welcomed the announcement.
The ECA chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, said the clubs will also have a say on the changes to the international calendar to accommodate the 2022 World Cup.
Rummenigge said: “In serious and fair negotiations, the ECA has agreed with FIFA on a transparent economic and organisational cooperation until 2022. For the first time, the European clubs will have a direct say on the international match calendar, which was very important to me personally. As a result, the ECA will be actively involved and contribute constructively to the design of the calendar, especially for 2022.
“Moreover, the World Cup club benefits will triple from $70m to $209m for the World Cups in 2018 and 2022. These payments will benefit clubs from around the world who release World Cup players to their respective national associations. From an ECA perspective, this agreement is a great achievement. It marks another milestone for club football as a whole!”
In addition to compensating clubs for the use of their players, FIFA confirmed that it will continue with the Club Protection Programme, by which clubs are compensated for losses incurred due to players being injured while on international duty.
