FUFA Poised to Receive Hefty Covid19 Relief Package From FIFA

Fifa is set to release $150 million (139 million euros) to its member football associations including Uganda’s governing body, FUFA, to help handle financial troubles caused by the coronavirus.

The world football governing body, FIFA on Friday confirmed that all operational funding for 2019 and 2020 would be distributed amongst the 211 member associations as the first step of a relief assistance plan.

“It is Fifa’s duty to be there and support the ones that are facing acute needs. This starts by providing immediate financial assistance to our member associations, many of which are experiencing severe financial distress,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

He added, “This is the first step of a far-reaching financial relief plan we are developing to respond to the emergency across the whole football community. Together with our stakeholders, we are we assessing the losses and we are working on the most appropriate and effective tools to implement the other stages of this relief plan.”

The stimulus package is in line with the FIFA strategy annouced last month aiming at the creation of a football aid fund.

According to the FIFA statement, Each national governing body will receive $500,000, meaning FUFA stands to receive funds close to Shs. 2bn.

Under normal circumstances, FIFA’s member associations would have only received the full amount of the contribution upon fulfillment of specific criteria. Instead, FIFA is now transferring this amount as an active support to help safeguard football across all member associations.