FIFA clarifies NFF and Super Falcon’s Women’s World Cup prize money allocation

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The world football governing body, FIFA has made clarifications on the 2023 Women’s World Cup player prize money allocated to Nigeria’s senior women’s national team.

Global union for professional football players, FIFPRO issued a statement to help Super Falcons resolve the issue of prize money payment and match bonuses this week.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has swiftly dismissed as nothing more than a storm in a team cup, a statement issued by the world body of professional footballers, FIFPRO on Tuesday calling on the Federation to pay players of the Super Falcons what they are owed.

In a letter from FIFA addressed to NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi last month (July), a clarification was made on the World Cup prize money allocation.

“The new funding distribution model comprises of a singular funding distribution directly to our member associations, for which there are two allocations in terms of conditions of use; the Participating Member Association (PMA) allocation and the player prize money allocation,” the FIFA letter read.

“The PMA allocation is for the full retention of the member association to use for their women’s national team costs(including the payment of coaches and technical staff) and/or activities in women’s football and is distinct and separate from any payments to  payers, which are to come from the second allocation.

“The player prize money allocation (being the second allocation)is a contribution or subsidy provided by FIFA to assist our member associations in the payment of their payers. This contribution is not direct funding to players from FIFA but rather acts as a subsidy towards all remuneration to players including salaries, including fees, bonuses, add-ons, ex-gratia payments, etc.

“The aggregate total of this subsidy should not exceed the amounts set out in the circular. This means that no further remuneration should be paid by the member association to the players using the tournament distribution funding.

“Additionally, the player prize money allocation is gross of any tax payable, and taxobligations arising from this prize money should be settled with the relevant tax authorities using these funds. FIFA acknowledges that tax treatments can vary  significantly between jurisdictions.”

According to FIFA players’ prize money for the tournament, each player of the nine-time African champions is expected to receive $60,000 for reaching the Round of 16.