NYON: European federation UEFA has decided to make more revenue available to all of the 55 member nations competing over the next week in the new Nations League.

Coincidentally this comes in the wake of criticism of the competition by high-profile clubs managers. Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, last weekend, described it as “the most senseless competition in the world.”

The overall winning country will collect €10.5m, an increase from the original figure of €7.5m. Each nation’s “solidarity payment”, is being increased by 50pc with more prize money also for the four league winners.

UEFA said the pay rise had been enabled by its own “solid financial situation” and “earnings from Euro 2016”.

This means England, in the top section, will earn a minimum of €2.25m while second-tier Northern Ireland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will collect at least €1.5m with Scotland, in the third level, picking up no less than €1.125m.

The competition is split into four leagues, based on each nation’s coefficient ranking, with 12 teams in Leagues A and B, 15 in League C and 16 in league D with the first-phase matches taking place during the international breaks in September, October and November.

One winner from each league will earn a spot at Euro 2020, with the top four nations from League A battling to become the overall Nations League champion in June.

England lost 2-1 to Spain at Wembley in their Nations League opener and play in Croatia on Friday.

Northern Ireland were beaten 2-1 by Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Wales winning 4-1 against the Republic of Ireland but then losing 2-0 to Denmark, while Scotland won their first game – 2-0 against Albania.

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