COSTA DO SAUIPE: World Cup participants, from national teams to players’ clubs, will benefit from a 37pc fees hike in Brazil next year compared with South Africa in 2010.

The finance committee of world federation FIFA has approved an increase in the ‘contribution pool’ $576m, compared with $420m in 2010.

The winners will receive $35m, while the runners-up will obtain $25m, the third-placed team $22m, the fourth-placed $20m, and quarter-finalists $14m each.

Teams that reach the round of 16 will each get $9m, while those eliminated in the group stage will each receive $8m. A total of $358m will be shared as prize money among the 32 participating teams.

In addition, each of the 32 qualified teams will be granted $1.5m for preparation costs.

Some $70m will be provided by FIFA via the member associations to the clubs whose players take part in the final competition as a contribution towards their participation. The majority of that will be harvested by clubs in Europe who provide mosgt of the finalists’ players.

A further $100m has been allocated to the player insurance system – known as the ‘club protection programme’.

This programme was launched in 2012 and is applicable on a worldwide level for all matches listed in the international match calendar for the period from September 1, 2012, until December 31, 2014, including the World Cup.

The system was created to head of the threat of clubs taking legal action against FIFA for the costs incurred after players were injured in the World Cup. A notable case was that of Newcastle’s Michael Owen who missed most of the next year after being injured at the 2006 finals in Germany.

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