Tag: FIFA

In line with its strict governance structure, world soccer governing body, the Federation of International Football Associations, FIFA , has opened its books on  how 211 MAs (member associations) got a staggering 2.8 billion USD under its novel FIFA Forward programme, between  2016 and 2022.

Established in 2016 after Gianni Infantino took office as FIFA President, and with the express aim of giving everyone around the world the chance to play football, the FIFA Forward programme has made a significant contribution to football development activities since its launch.

“We pledged that revenues generated by football would be used for the benefit of our sport all around the world, for girls and boys, women and men, and we were as good as our word,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Investment in football is both our responsibility and our obligation, and through FIFA Forward we have the structure to do that in a viable and transparent way. The outcome has been a sevenfold increase in investment since 2016 – during a spell in which FIFA’s revenues have not even doubled. This shows that funding is not only being delivered correctly, but it is being monitored and implemented to ensure the sustainable development of football for the long term.”

The report noted that 80 percent  of the investment across FIFA Forward 1.0 and 2.0 from 2016 to 2022 – more than USD 2.24 billion – was made directly to MAs both to make an essential contribution to the operations of football development activities and to enable investment in specific projects with a long-term impact on football development.

FIFA then broke down its  investments between 2016 and 2022 into eight categories. Administration and Governance used USD 448.8 million as the biggest investment area across the 211 MAs, closely followed by Infrastructure (USD 415.2 million). National Teams (USD 357.5 million), Competitions (USD 186.1 million), and Equipment and Others (USD 181.1 million) saw significant funds dedicated to them, as did Women’s Football (USD 110.9 million) and Capacity Development (USD 86.8 million). Football operating expenses and unused funds (USD 135.6 million) accounted for the remainder of the global sum.

According to FIFA, the

funds invested resulted in no fewer than 577 new pitches being laid and 208 new competitions established, directly providing more than 300,000 women and men around the world with new opportunities to play the game they love.

Meanwhile, in this  detailed  ‘Global Report on Development Activities (2016-2022)’  released today and obtained by our correspondent, FIFA said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for instance, got  approximately 10 million USD for projects for two facilities located in Kebbi State and Delta State, among others projects.

Incidentally,  MAs under the Confederation of Africa  Football (CAF) got the biggest share of funds in the years under review with total entitlement amounting to a staggering 114 million USD.

Closely following is Asia Football Confederation (AFC), which got 108.0 million USD  while CONCACAF got 90.0 million USD. The trio of UEFA, CONMEBOL and OFC equally shared 234.0 million USD  between themselves, averaging 78.0 million USD per confederation.

The main objective of the FIFA Forward that was launched in 2016, according to the long-standing chairman of the body that has other 15 high ranking members, Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa  of the UAE, noted that it focuses on the future and common aim of maximising the impact of football development, adding: “The FIFA Forward Development Programme’s  first two cycles (2016-2022) provided approximately USD  2.8 billion in development funds for investment, primarily in our 211 member  associations, as well as in the six confederation and the various zonal/ regional  associations.”

He further dwelled on the rationale behind the report, which he said, “was to shed light on the achievements of the first two cycles of the  Forward Programme.”

Highlighting why Nigeria was considered as a beneficiary of the FIFA Forward Programme, the  Al-Khalifa-led body said it considered, amongst other things, the avowed passion  in the football-mad  three-time African Champions even as the report noted inter alia.

“Nigeria’s football heritage is undeniably impressive, with past and present stars captivating audiences worldwide. Great players like Nwankwo Kanu, Jay-Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi and Victor Osimhen readily come to mind,” the report  stated. “However, there is a shared belief that Nigeria can produce even more global stars if proper infrastructure is implemented, particularly in remote areas. 

“Recognising the need for enhanced infrastructure, FIFA and the Nigeria Football Federation joined forces in 2020 to deliver two mini stadiums in remote areas of the country: Birnin Kebbi, in the North West region, and Ugborodo, in the South South region, under the FIFA Forward Initiative. 

“With an investment of USD 2 million in these mini stadiums, the project aims to encourage greater male and female participation in the sport, foster the growth of future football stars and address youth restiveness and unemployment. 

“The mini stadiums are expected to revolutionise football development in Kebbi State and Delta State when fully completed.”

Going into the specifics, the  report revealed how the NFF spent its approved sum of  9.9 million USD with the breakdown as follows:  Infrastructure (2.6M ); National Teams (2.3M ); Administration and Governance (1.9M ); Women’s Football (0.7M ) Uncategorised Competitions (0.2M ); Equipment (0.2M); and Others Capacity Development (0.1M ).

In a report earlier this year, the world soccer ruling body equally explained why the facilities were cited in Birnin-Kebbi and Ugborodo.

 “Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi, was chosen back in 2020 as the site for the construction of an artificial football pitch that is now available for young boys and girls to use. Meanwhile, a second pitch is under construction in Ugborodo, situated further to the south,” FIFA noted on its website.  “Undertaken by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), these two ambitious projects have received around USD 2 million in funding from FIFA through its Forward Programme.  

“The main goal of the programme, which is now into its third cycle, is the growth of football around the world. Forward 3.0 is giving the game’s global governing body the chance to redouble its efforts and lay down ever more solid foundations for promoting this growth, with the construction of facilities an important lever in supporting the whole process.”

While the project in Birnin Kebbi can relatively be considered a success, that of Ugborodo domiciled in the nativity of the former NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, had been steeped in controversy with works presumably being stopped at some points for lack of funds. 

Last May, bsnsports.com.ng, in a report, berated  Pinnick, a FIFA Council Member, for failing to deliver the Ugborodo project before his  term ran out as the NFF President in September 2022. 

Three years ago, and precisely 26th November 2020, the NFF then under Pinnick, during the  ‘take over’ of the upgraded FIFA Technical Centre in Bauchi, said the Ugborodo project was to be completed in March 2021.  

“The completion of the first phase of the facility in Bauchi increases the number of sporting infrastructure in the land, which will further  improve when the FIFA Forward 2.0 projects (mini stadia) in Birnin Kebbi and Ugborodo are completed  at the end of March 2021,” the NFF said in an official statement. 

But three years down the line, the  project in Ugborodo is not nearing the finishing line yet according to BSN Sports: “The much talked about Ugborodo stadium has been abandoned without sign of possible date for completion despite the contractor receiving millions of Naira.”

Nigeria’s seemingly poor  execution of its FIFA Forward 1.0 and 2-0  notwithstanding,  the Al Khalifa-led body must be pleased with the progress  already made in  infrastructural developments  in some other CAF MAs – particularly in forward-looking countries like Rwanda, Senegal, Morocco and a host of countries in northern and eastern Africa.

Yet, FIFA has enthused that the future of the game is going to be greener with its third cycle of investment in football.

“Through the Forward Programme, FIFA works every day with every single member association to develop football and this continuous activity at every level is what underpins the success of our sport and the impact that we are seeing through Forward will help to safeguard this success for future generations,” added FIFA Secretary General ad interim Mattias Grafström.

 Accordingly, FIFA said its  Forward 3.0 promises to deliver more improvements than ever before with each MA eligible to receive up to USD 8 million per four-year cycle, with additional funding available for confederations and zonal or regional associations. As per previous interations of the programme, FIFA also provides specialised, locally based know-how, and ensures compliance with its enhanced oversight controls to maximise the benefit of all funding.

How well Nigeria would benefit and take advantage of the inherent opportunities in the Forward 3.0 remains to be seen. 

The Premier League have reportedly  lodged a formal complaint to FIFA over their failure to consult with leagues and clubs over the expanded 32-team Club World Cup.

The schedule for the new tournament on Saturday, which will see Manchester City and Chelsea play up to seven matches in four weeks in the summer of 2025, with the final taking place just three weeks before the start of the following domestic season.

The Premier League are understood to have signed a letter of complaint sent to FIFA by the World Leagues Forum, a lobby group which represents 44 of the top domestic leagues in the world including La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga.

The strongly-worded letter is believed to accuse FIFA of failing to exercise their responsibilities as the world’s governing body and to claim that they prioritise their own interests instead by scheduling more matches to generate ever-greater revenue.

The commercial value of the expanded Club World Cup is unclear at present as broadcast rights and sponsorship deals have yet to sold, but with many of the world’s top clubs including City, Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich already qualified it is sure to generate several billion pounds.

Read Also: UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw

FIFA are working towards committing to a prize fund alone of £2billion, with all the clubs taking part to be paid £50m and the winners receiving over £100m.

In their letter the World League’s Forum claimed  that FIFA are ignoring the best interests of the clubs by overloading the calendar and putting the players’ health at risk.

PFA chief executive Maheta Molango made a similar point on Sunday by saying the players were being used as pawns and describing the Club World Cup as ridiculous.

Photo: L-R:  Romanian FA President Razyan Burleanu;  FIFA President, Gianni Infantino and CAF Executive Committee and FIFA Council Member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, at  the recent FIFA Council Meeting in Zurich.

In 2021, FIFA launched the #ReachOut campaign with the aim of raising awareness of the symptoms of mental health. At its core, the campaign encouraged people to seek help when they need it.

This message was exemplified recently by Real Oviedo player Víctor Camarasa.

 On 12 September 2023, the club announced that the player was taking a break from football.

“From this moment on, for an undetermined period of time, he will be on the side lines of the first team for the sole purpose of taking care of his mental health,” the Spanish club announced in its statement, giving full support to the player.

“Whether you’re inside or outside of the pitch, we’re under a lot of pressure in football. In my case, I was putting myself under too much pressure” the former Levante, Alavés, Betis and Cardiff City player said to FIFA.com/Inside. “I think it’s really important that FIFA is trying to help as mental illness needs to be normalised.”

Camarasa is now 29 years old. He was an Under-21 international with Spain and made his La Liga debut at the age of 20. His biggest test however was the cruciate ligament tear he suffered with Betis in August 2020 which kept him side-lined for more than six months and was followed by surgery on the patellar tendon in the same leg.

To talk to Víctor today is to talk to a player who is gradually regaining his smile, both in his daily life, and on the pitch. His decision should serve as an example to anyone who thinks he or she needs help.

“The complicated thing is taking the first step,” he said, recalling his feelings on 12 September.

“In this sport, as in many others, we must start treating mental illness in a comparable way to any other injury. if you have to stop, you have to stop. Do not fear what people will say. It’s still seen as rare when someone needs to stop playing” he points out, trying to dismantle the stigma still surrounding mental illness.

Conversation moves onto the importance of talking, of asking for help, particularly in the football industry with its global profile. It’s a factor that has driven him to become an inadvertent ‘spokesman.’

Read Also: 2016 FIFA World Cup: Stakeholders Divided Over ‘Task Force’ For Super Eagles

“When you have a serious injury, you need support from those around you as sometimes you can feel very low” he explained. “Players are role models to many, and always in the spotlight. If we can help in some way to show we’re all the same, and stories like mine can have a positive impact on people, then it’s a big step forward.”

When Camarasa decided to stop, he stepped away from football completely. He is proud of his decision, though with an important nuance. “The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about it, is that maybe I should have stopped even earlier.

I’ve been through some very difficult times. When I’ve been injured and out of the game, it’s important to have support. Awareness campaigns from organisations like FIFA can really make a difference.

“Feeling that I couldn’t cope with the situation any more though made me say ‘enough’. I couldn’t react rationally to day-to-day situations. Before that point, I’d never contemplated stopping because I was unwell.

“We all have bad days, but when it’s day after day and you get home and you’re half ‘dead’… this made me take the decision together with the club and the doctors. You have to try to recognise there is a problem, and express what is happening, whether it’s with the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist” he reflected.

After a few weeks away from the team, on 2 October he returned to training with his teammates. Another ‘step’ forward was when he returned to the Carlos Tartiere Stadium pitch on 7 October.

“It was a huge joy. When I came on to warm up, all the fans applauded me. They also wanted to see me back on the pitch, enjoying myself and being happy. I was thrilled and I only have words of thanks” he continued.

Throughout his period away from the game, Victor’s club also played a significant role in his recovery.

“At Real Oviedo, and as part of the Grupo Pachuca – where we have been working with sport psychologists – we are very aware of mental health, and we equally support FIFA’s #ReachOut campaign” said General Manager Agustín Lleida. “We are always at the player’s side. We see Victor as a person first, and a footballer second.”

Looking back on his recent experience, Víctor is thankful for all the support he has received. In conclusion, he has a message that he trusts will reach those who need it.

“I am lucky, to do what I like. It seems that we (as footballers) have everything we could want, but I am also just a human, like everyone else. This illness can affect anyone, and if you do get ill, accept it, and please seek help.”