Covid-19: FIFA to distribute $150m to its 211 national federations out of the funds it owes them

"FIFA will release all operational funding due to member associations for the years 2019 and 2020 in the coming days as the first step of a relief plan to assist the football community impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This measure will mean that a total of around $150m (€139m) will be distributed among the 211 national football governing bodies around the world," announced the International Federation on 24/04/2020.

"The pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges for the entire football community and, as the world governing body, it is FIFA’s duty to be there and support the ones that are facing acute needs," said Gianni Infantino (ITA-SUI), president of FIFA.

"As part of the measure, all remaining entitlements of member associations to operational costs under the Forward 2.0 Programme will be released in full for the years 2019 and 2020. In particular, the release of the second instalment of operational costs for 2020, which was originally due in July, will be paid immediately," said FIFA.

In concrete terms, this means that FIFA will pay each association $500,000 (€463,000…