FAZ clears air over K9.3M FIFA fund
By Aaron Mubanga Jnr | April 26, 2020
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has cleared the air over the $500 000 they are set to receive from the World Football governing body, FIFA.
In a press statement availed to the ZamFoot Crew, FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala clarified that the money is the second batch of the Operations Funding from FIFA under the FIFA Forward 2.0 Football Development Programme.
Kashala said the said money has been misinterpreted for support to local clubs as part of the Covid-19 mitigation measure.
“The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) wishes to set the record straight following the announcement by FIFA that it will give Member Associations immediate relief to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19.
FAZ has noted that the announced $500, 000 has been misinterpreted for support to local clubs as part of the Covid-19 mitigation measure.
However, the correct position is that FIFA under its FIFA Forward 2.0 Football Development Programme provides to all Member Associations USD1,000,000 Operations Funding, which is disbursed in two equal installments annually as part of the FIFA support to all members.”
The operations fund is divided into two equal halves with one half being received at the beginning of every year while the second batch amounting to USD500,000 is disbursed in July every year after an audit by FIFA and subject to a Member Association meeting set developmental criteria.
The Zurich based body announced on Friday, April 24th that the 211 FIFA member countries will receive USD 500,000 in the coming days as well as any remaining entitlements of operational costs under the Forward 2.0 Programme which will be released in full for the years 2019 and 2020.
FAZ will however only receive the $500 000 as they have confirmed that they have no remaining entitlements of operational costs from 2019.
The reported USD500,000 funding by FIFA to all Member Associations is, therefore, funding for the second batch that in addition shall come with any carryover disbursements from 2019.
“We are glad to report that FAZ met all the set developmental criteria for 2019 and shall therefore not receive any carryover funds from 2019.
FIFA has clearly stated that the funds will be subject to audit as is customary under the FIFA Forward 2.0 Programme.”
FAZ also went on to confirm that they have started the process of applying for a relief fund and are just awaiting information from clubs regarding income loss projections in the remaining matches of the season.
“FAZ, however, has commenced the process of applying for a relief package available from FIFA for members to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19.
In this regard, FAZ has requested clubs to avail of information regarding income loss projections in the remaining matches of the season and come up with a reflective picture of the situation.
FIFA has notified members that it is working on a broader financial relief program for its members with fast-tracking annual grants being the first step.”