By David Owen
August 19 – Last year’s under-17 World Cup cost more than double its budget, in an overshoot blamed by FIFA on “exceptional high” medical and security costs.
FIFA’s latest financial report puts expenses related to the tournament, held in Nigeria, at a startling $42.76 million (£27.40 million).
This is almost exactly double the $21.47 million (£13.76 million) cost of the under-20 World Cup in Egypt, also staged last year, and well over twice the $18.3 million (£11.7 million) budget listed in an earlier FIFA financial report.
Questioned on the subject by insideworldfootball, FIFA said the competition was “a very special event in terms of medical and security requirements, which led to exceptional high spending/costs in those areas.
“The costs for those services were simply much higher in Nigeria, and FIFA had to make sure that there was an adequate level of service to all those taking part in the competition.”
The disclosure comes at a sensitive time for Nigerian football, with pressure growing for a postponement in national federation elections scheduled for Saturday (August 21).
The country has also been trying to come to terms with the poor performance of its national team at the recent World Cup, with the House of Representatives launching an inquiry.
Rumours of an overshoot had first surfaced early this year, in the context of a landmark FIFA Executive Committee meeting in December on Robben Island, site of a prison where Nelson Mandela was long incarcerated.
The competition was won somewhat improbably by Switzerland, who beat the hosts 1-0 in the final.
It remains to be seen whether the high cost of the tournament damages Nigeria’s prospects of staging future FIFA events.
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