The decision by FIFA, football’s world governing body, to fork out an additional US$300,000, to each of its 209 members, is most welcomed by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Association (SVGFF).{{more}}

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT last Monday, president of the SVGFF Venold Coombs called the additional monies “much needed.”

Coombs noted that, as stipulated by FIFA, the monies would be used for preparation of the senior national men’s team for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

“2015 would be a very busy year for us… Apart from the World Cup qualifiers, we have the Windwards tournament in St Lucia; we have the inaugural Windwards women’s tournament which we will host… There is the Under-23 men’s qualifiers as well,” Coombs reasoned.

In a letter to FIFA members, secretary general Jerome Valcke confirmed that FIFA members will be entitled to receive $1,050,000: $250,000 for the 2015 Financial Assistance Programme (FAP); $500,000 as a one-off financial bonus; and $300,000 as support for the preparation of and participation in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

“This sum is in addition to the first tranche of $250,000 of the bonus that was made available after the 2014 FIFA Congress.

“Therefore, the total one-off contributions made to member associations as a result of the good financial results of the 2014 FIFA World Cup amount to $1,050,000 each, plus, as mentioned, the normal 2015 FAP contribution of $250,000, making a grand total of $1,300,000.”

FIFA boasts a reserve of about $1.4 billion.(RT)