GFA assures clubs of FIFA relief

GHANAIAN clubs have been assured of a sound financial relief from the FIFA COVID-19 Emergency Fund promised by FIFA to all member associations.

Disclosing this during a special joint interview on ‘The effects of COVID-19 on the Sports Industry’ on GTV Sports+ and Happy FM yesterday, the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr Kurt E.S. Okraku, said though the specific amount was yet to be determined by FIFA, his outfit would ensure that Ghanaian clubs benefit from the fund.

“FIFA is fast-tracking all the processes to ensure that we get the Emergency Fund, so we are only playing the waiting game. Immediately we get this fund we will consult and make sure our clubs benefit from the money because clubs are suffering in this country.

“As I speak, we are waiting on FIFA Bureau of Council to announce the quantum of financial support to member associations,” he said.

According to Mr Okraku, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, after receiving proposals from member associations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, decided to scrap the 10-point criteria for the $500,000 FIFA Forward subvention to enable FAs to meet their obligations, while creating a COVID-19 Emergency Fund to mitigate the financial challenges of clubs.

“FA heads in WAFU and CAF met and following the two proposals the FIFA president  spoke and was very clear that the annual FIFA Forward subventions that were given to member associations for the month of July should be fast-forwarded.

“Usually, every member association has to meet 10 criteria points before they can access the $500,000. But the FIFA president said because of COVID-19 he would scrap all the cardinal points and pay the money to every member association so that we would be able to meet our obligations from now on till January when the next subvention will come,” he explained.