UEFA will immediately release almost 70 million euros ($75.5m) in benefit payments to clubs struggling financially during the coronavirus crisis, European football’s governing body announced on Thursday.
The money was
originally put aside to be paid to clubs who had released players for
international matches after the completion of the European Championship
qualifying play-offs.
Those matches were
initially due to be played at the end of March but were postponed as football
across the continent ground to a halt in the middle of last month due to the
health crisis. They have since been postponed until further notice, with Euro
2020 postponed by 12 months.
Of the money, 50
million euros is destined for clubs having released players for qualifiers to
countries not involved in the play-offs, and 17.7 million euros to clubs whose
players were set to be involved with national teams in the final play-off ties.
The money is part
of a minimum pot of 200 million euros set aside as benefit payments for clubs
who release players for the Euros.
UEFA said the
payments would see a total of 676 clubs from all across Europe receive amounts
ranging from 3,200 euros to 630,000 euros, giving them “vital breathing room at
a critical time”.
Andrea Agnelli,
Juventus chairman and also in charge of the powerful European Club Association
(ECA) said: “This represents a much-needed liquidity injection into club
finances and is a result of ECA’s joint work with UEFA on safeguarding clubs at
this time of existential threat.”
