Windfall for football
Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) confirmed that it is one of the 211 member countries in line to receive a handsome grant relief to be distributed by FIFA, the global governing body for football.
Accordingly FFSL is set to receive US$ 1.5 million, which will be distributed to each member country of FIFA via the six confederations, to support in improvement of the financial impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anura de Silva, the President of FFSL told the Sunday Times that the local football administration is aware of the development and explained that it is expecting until the regulations of the grant to be forwarded by FIFA to all member countries.
"We are aware that the grant would be released under three stages. We are expecting the regulations from FIFA, in which would include how FFSL should utilise the grant and other related matters," de Silva stated.
FIFA had originally initiated the grant at one of its meetings held in June, where the global body was critical in building close liaison with its confederations a n d m e m b e r s. Consequently, the request was approved by the FIFA Council, to which an enormous endowment of US$ 1.5 billion was allocated.
Among FIFA's intended areas that were in focus were the professional men's and women's, youth, grass-root level and loans under strict observance. Soon after FIFA dispatches the grants after releasing the regulations to its confederations and member countries, the funds will be released under three different stages.
"FIFA will initially release US$ 500,000 in 2020, and another US$ 500,000 in 2021. These portions will be totally for the usage of restoring football in each country, back to its usual status. The third instalment of US$ 500,000 is solely for women's football. We will get a clear idea when we receive the regulations from FIFA," de Silva added.
According to reports member associations have been given the ability to transform remaining FIFA Forward Development Project grants into COVID-19 operational relief funds through the second instalment of the proposed grant. Sri Lanka already sought permission from FIFA to utilise a portion of the funds for such purposes during the early stage of the pandemic.
"Out of existing funds at FFSL allocated for development programmes, we used US$ 200,000 for COVID-19 relief programmes, after receiving approval from FIFA."
According to FIFA regulations, strict compliance and audit requirements must be established as well as clear loan repayment conditions, under the supervision of a steering committee. Once the funds are released all FIFA member associations will be able to use them for activities such as the restart of competitions, implementation of return-to-play protocols, participation of national teams in competitions, hiring and re-hiring of staff, maintenance of football infrastructure and general administration and operating costs.
According to a media release issued by FIFA, it will work closely with its confederations and member associations in the coming months to assist them in the implementation of the plan through educational content and additional guidelines.