FIFA yesterday cleared the air on the World Cup prize money that accrues to each participating federation at the World Cup finals.
Nigeria was exposed to public shame in Brazil when the Eagles demanded for their share of the prize money, which FIFA normally pays at the end of the tournament. NFF had told the players that the money was yet to be paid but the players went on strike, missing a day’s training prior to their second round match against France.
A panicky Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan quickly dispatched his Minister of Sports , Dr. Tamuno Danagogo to give the players $3.8m, being their conceived share of the prize money from the yet to be released FIFA money.
It was hoped that the money would ginger the boys to beat France but the African champions succumbed 2-0. Nigeria government fell to the players’ blackmail.
The aftershocks of that loss are still reverberating in Nigeria with the NFF board being dissolved and FIFA placing Nigerian on suspension, with a possible indefinite ban if the board was not reinstated today.
And only last night, FIFA moved to clear the air on the World Cup prize money, which is tearing Nigeria apart, stating that the money was for the federation which they said has the right to use it at its own discretion. It is largely for development of the game but some federations pay players who played the qualifying matches and World Cup matches a certain percentage of the money.
“That prize money from the World Cup will go to each country’s soccer federation and it is at the discretion of each nation how to dole out the winnings”, said FIFA.
That prize money is in addition to the $1.5 million each nation was given prior to the tournament for training, travel and other expenses.
FIFA also has a pool $70 million to pay to the various clubs that employ the 736 club players in the tournament, which works out to $2,800 per player per day that the player was in the World Cup.