By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The English Football Association known, The FA, has put the blames for the running battle between it and players of England senior women’s football team over performance- related bonuses ahead of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand, squarely on the door steps of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).
Mark Bullingham, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) told the media in London on Thursday that the world football governing body is to be blamed for the
performance- related bonuses row that has hit most MAs including Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prior to the kick-off of the biggest women’s football competition in the world.
According to Bullingham’s decision to pay players directly from the purse came rather late when The FA had gone very far in negotiations with the players on what they will be paid from the World Cup largesse but all that changed when FIFA supremo announced belatedly that the players will now be paid directly by FIFA.
England women’s players have been frustrated with The FA after bonus talks broke down over Performance- related bonuses for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup not expecting that FIFA has introduced individual fees being paid to players.
Following the new development on performance- related bonuses row, The FA decided the squad will not be paid Performance- related bonuses for the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and the players believe the FA is using the introduction of individual fees being set by FIFA as an excuse to avoid doing so for their work for the federation at the tournament.
Previously, FIFA distributed money to Football Federations and it was at the discretion of the Federation whether it passed some of that on to the players.
Recall many MAs including Nigeria and South Africa are also at daggers drawn with the Super Falcons and Banyana Banyana players still protesting over World Cup largesse just as the bonus disagreements delayed the early departure of the South Africa team to Australia and New Zealand. READ ALSO:
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Also, Nigeria’s Super Falcons threatened to boycott their opening match against Canada in Australia and the threat jolted the NFF hierarchy who quickly embarked on fence-minding mission to Down Under to prevent the players embarrassing Nigeria at the world stage.
However, FIFA announced that players will be allocated specified amounts for their participation in the World Cup with every player competing in the group stage receiving $30,000 (£24,000) and that money rising through the tournament to $270,000 for each player in the winning team.
