By Samindra Kunti
April 19 – The Belgian Red Devils will earn a handsome €700,000 per player if they win this summer’s EURO 2016 in France.
At the 2014 World Cup the Belgian players bagged €350,000 each, notwithstanding a relatively disappointing campaign. In Brazil, Belgium, dubbed as dark horses, failed to impress, lacking shape and strategy. Argentina and Lionel Messi eliminated the Belgians in the quarter-finals.
Yet an agreement between the players and the Belgian FA, the KBVB, ensured Marc Wilmots’ charges got a substantial financial reward: they were entitled to 60% of all the prize money the KBVB received.
That agreement will run until the 2018 World Cup in Russia. EURO 2016 may thus turn into the golden goose for Belgium’s golden generation.
Every participant at EURO 2016 will receive €8 million. In the group phase a win brings in €1 million and a draw €500,000. UEFA incrementally increases the prize money as the tournament progresses: €1.5 million in the round of 16, €2,5 million in the quarter-finals, €4 million in the semi-finals. The winner will receive €8 million, the losing finalist €5 million.
In total, teams can earn up to €27 million during EURO 2016. That would amount to €16.2 million for the Belgian squad or €700,000 per player. Germany, the current world champions, will only reward their players with a bonus of €300,000 each if they win the European Championship.
Without having played a match, the Belgian players have already bagged €200,000 each as the KBVB received €8 million after qualification for the main tournament.
Come June Belgium will be one of the favorites to win EURO 2016. They have been drawn in group E with Italy, Ireland and Sweden. The Red Devils will begin their campaign on June 13 with a mouth-watering clash against Italy. They are heavily fancied to reach the final four.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713518885labto1713518885ofdlr1713518885owedi1713518885sni@i1713518885tnuk.1713518885ardni1713518885mas1713518885