FIFA is facing criticism for not disbursing the final payments owed to hundreds of players in Europe whose contracts were not honored by their clubs.
While some payments have been made, the final installment, due in September 2023, is still pending.
The total unpaid amount of £3.09 million affects 420 players and was intended to come from FIFA’s Fund for Players, established in 2020 to support footballers left without compensation due to their clubs’ failures to fulfill contractual obligations.
Many of these players are currently unemployed or retired, making this funding vital for their financial well-being.
BBC Sport has obtained an email from a national players’ union listing over 30 players experiencing financial difficulties and urging FIFA to release the overdue payments, emphasizing the distress these unpaid sums are causing.
This situation coincides with an ongoing dispute between FIFA and the global players’ union FIFPRO regarding the increasingly congested match calendar.
Both FIFPRO and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) have expressed concerns about the physical demands on elite players, particularly in light of the Club World Cup’s expansion to 32 teams next summer.
FIFA has not yet responded to these criticisms.
