FIFA fund for unpaid wages helps 225 players at clubs in Portugal and Greece

Zurich, May 12 (BNA) FIFA’s Unpaid Wages Compensation Fund helped 225 players with the latest round of payments, including 61 in Portugal and 50 in Greece, FIFA said Friday.

The $16 million FIFA Fund for Footballers was established in 2020 with the FIFPRO Players Association. It was suspected that some clubs were closed down to avoid paying salaries and then restarted as Operation “Phoenix”.

According to the Associated Press (AP), FIFA has set aside $4 million for financial aid applications from 2021.

The payments included 22 players from Greece’s Doxa Drama Club, as well as 19 players from CD Aves and 18 from Portugal’s Uniao da Madeira.

The cases in China came from Shanghai Shenxin, Beijing Renhe, Taizhou Yuanda, and Guangdong South China Tiger.

Roy Vermeer, FIFPRO’s legal director, said in a statement.

FIFA said the fund has been assisted by 1,370 players, and $4 million has been set aside for a final round of applications through 2022.

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