May 14 – A joint project between FIFA and FIFPro to help players whose salaries were not paid has sent $2 million to more than 400 applicants from Greek and Turkish clubs.
The payments represented the first tranche of a $16 million scheme launched last year and running up to 2022.
FIFPro estimates that about 50 clubs in 20 countries – mainly in Eastern Europe and Asia -have closed down in the last few years, leaving hundreds of players without pay.
Called the FIFA Fund for Football Players (FIFA FFP), 291 claims worth $1.36 million went to players who played for teams in Greece while almost $700,000 was paid toward 117 approved claims from Turkey.
Payouts from Asia amounted to $675,000, with most going to players from Malaysian clubs. Claims from South America added up to $565,000, and $110,000 went to players from Concacaf.
In all, FIFA said it allocated $3 million for claims in the second half of 2020 and $4 million for each of 2021 and 2022.
The approved applications covered the period between July 2015 and June 2020 and, in all, covered 109 clubs from 36 member associations.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713514422labto1713514422ofdlr1713514422owedi1713514422sni@w1713514422ahsra1713514422w.wer1713514422dna1713514422