Ħamrun Spartans and Hibernians will be the top two local club beneficiaries.
Over 900 clubs receive record €233m from UEFA National Team competitions
The allocation of funds for the 2020/2024 cycle of national team competitions has been finalised, following the recent payments related to the UEFA EURO 2024 final tournament. A record €233m was distributed from the UEFA EURO 2024 Club Benefits Programme to 901 clubs from all 55 participating national associations for releasing players to national team competitions – the 2020/21 and 2022/23 UEFA Nations League, European Qualifiers 2022–24 and the UEFA EURO 2024 final tournament.
Based on the mechanism for distribution of the payments approved by the UEFA Executive Committee in April 2022, €100m was reserved to the release of players to the 2020/21 and 2022/23 UEFA Nations League, as well as the European Qualifiers to UEFA EURO 2024. €93m was distributed according to the agreed rates, with the remaining €7m – a balance always remains due to factors such as players being released from non-European clubs – to be made available for distribution in the next cycle. The allocation in the previous cycle was €70m.
The amount secured for the release of players to the UEFA EURO 2024 final tournament also increased, from €130m to €140m, with funds going to 196 clubs from 29 UEFA national associations.
The overall amount distributed marks a substantial increase from the €200m of the previous cycle, as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by UEFA and the European Club Association (ECA) in February 2019.
In total between them the 14 Maltese Clubs will get a total of €1’240’401.00.
These will be shared as follows:
Balzan FC €40’249.00
Birkirkara FC €171’973.00
FC Sirens €14’636.00
Floriana FC €87’816.00
Gudja United €3’659.00
Gzira United FC €47’567.00
Hamrun Spartans FC €307’356.00
Hibernians FC €234’176.00
Marsaxlokk FC €10’977.00
Saint Patrick FC Zabbar €7’318.00
Santa Lucia €25’613.00
Sliema Wanderers FC €84’157.00
Valletta FC €193’927.00
Zejtun Corinthians €10’977.00
Under the detailed distribution mechanism agreed between UEFA and the ECA, clubs received an equal share for each player released for each UEFA Nations League and European Qualifiers match, as well as a fixed amount per player per day during the final tournament, adjusted according to FIFA’s club categorisation for training compensation.
Clubs who benefitted vary throughout the football pyramid from the elite level to the amateur tier with even several seventh division sides and a tenth division side – Yorkshire Amateur of England – receiving funds.
Commenting on the solidarity payments, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said: “It is fantastic to see clubs of all sizes and levels, across the entire football pyramid, receiving financial rewards for their vital role in developing players who contribute to the success of our national team competitions – including the highly successful UEFA EURO 2024 final tournament. Every success of our competitions is a shared one, and this benefits programme is another testament to that principle, recognising the dedication of those who work tirelessly to make European football the greatest sport in the world. When football thrives, everyone benefits.”
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman of the ECA, said: “I am very pleased see that more than 900 clubs from all corners of Europe have benefited from this unprecedented distribution under the Club Benefits Programme, which is a key pillar of UEFA and ECA’s Memorandum of Understanding. This initiative recognises that clubs play a vital role in the ongoing success of national team football through developing, employing and releasing players; and also that the national team game in-turn drives the development of clubs and their communities. This harmonious relationship perfectly reflects the great collaboration between UEFA and ECA today, driving growth, innovation and the positive development of European football in the interests of all.”
