FIFA Grants to Member Nations to Aid Clubs

[Dev]

I wonder how much has been given to the SFA and how much, if any, is for clubs outside the SPFL?

If all of the money is allocated just to the SPFL will it make it easier for the Scottich Government to help football at the lower levels of the game?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54393015

Fifa gives FAW £1m grant to back clubs amid pandemic

Fifa has given the Football Association of Wales (FAW) a £750,000 grant to support clubs in the top four tiers of its men's domestic leagues.

The top two tiers of women's football in Wales will also receive £375,000 to help offset the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Football's global governing body's grants are going to 211 of its member associations and six confederations.

The FAW is setting up a Matchday Support Grant to share between clubs.

[Andy groundhopper]

Also the Premier League has given £ to the Welsh and National leagues, plus the women's game. Don't honestly see anything filtering downwards to Scottish non league clubs tbh, think it's the responsibility of the FA's considering how much the clubs have given over the years.

[Dev]

Just in case there's any doubt, the Fifa money goes direct to the National Football Associations, not via the English Premier League.

The question is what will the SFA do with their allocation, how much is it, and how quickly are they acting behind the scenes to get this to clubs. 

[cmontheloknow]

You're talking a quarter of that to give the non-leaguers a grand each. Better than a dose of covid but not going to go too far.

[Dev]

5 minutes ago, cmontheloknow said:

You're talking a quarter of that to give the non-leaguers a grand each. Better than a dose of covid but not going to go too far.

Have you heard any more about this yet? The Welsh FA went public about it yesterday, or maybe the day before (not sure).

I see the Spanish are starting to use the new "15 minute" test for covid anti-bodies. Maybe the SFA could spend the money on that e,g, free testing of players and officials so, at least, the changing and social facilities could be used normally (provided they're kept clean).

Maybe spectators could be allowed into matches if they took the test and were found negative. Spectators could be charged for a test. We'd be back to normal if this happened - at least for football clubs.

I understand that the new quick test is cheap (don't know the cost). Does anyone know when it will be available in the UK and what it costs.

Edited October 4, 2020 by Dev
.

[cmontheloknow]

nothing at all tbh

[Dev]

9 minutes ago, Dev said:

Have you heard any more about this yet? The Welsh FA went public about it yesterday, or maybe the day before (not sure).

I see the Spanish are starting to use the new "15 minute" test for covid anti-bodies. Maybe the SFA could spend the money on that e,g, free testing of players and officials so, at least, the changing and social facilities could be used normally (provided they're kept clean).

Maybe spectators could be allowed into matches if they took the test and were found negative. Spectators could be charged for a test. We'd be back to normal if this happened - at least for football clubs.

I understand that the new quick test is cheap (don't know the cost). Does anyone know when it will be available in the UK and what it costs.

More thoughts.......

[jimbaxters]

17 minutes ago, Dev said:

Have you heard any more about this yet? The Welsh FA went public about it yesterday, or maybe the day before (not sure).

I see the Spanish are starting to use the new "15 minute" test for covid anti-bodies. Maybe the SFA could spend the money on that e,g, free testing of players and officials so, at least, the changing and social facilities could be used normally (provided they're kept clean).

Maybe spectators could be allowed into matches if they took the test and were found negative. Spectators could be charged for a test. We'd be back to normal if this happened - at least for football clubs.

I understand that the new quick test is cheap (don't know the cost). Does anyone know when it will be available in the UK and what it costs.

The antibodies test is not the same as a COVID test. We got it at work here in Italy. The results did come back within 10-15 mins but if it came back positive you then had to take the COVID test proper.

At the match, you could turn positive antibodies tests away at the gate but that would be a bit unfair on anyone who had had the virus and now had antibodies but are no longer COVID positive.

Edited October 4, 2020 by jimbaxters

[Dev]

4 hours ago, jimbaxters said:

The antibodies test is not the same as a COVID test. We got it at work here in Italy. The results did come back within 10-15 mins but if it came back positive you then had to take the COVID test proper.

At the match, you could turn positive antibodies tests away at the gate but that would be a bit unfair on anyone who had had the virus and now had antibodies but are no longer COVID positive.

Good point. Is there a way around that? Doctors note? 

How many people who've had covid might be affected i.e. and who would be wanting to go to a football match? Maybe not enough to prevent others from attending matches?

Any idea how much these tests cost?

Edited October 4, 2020 by Dev
.

[jimbaxters]

49 minutes ago, Dev said:

Good point. Is there a way around that? Doctors note? 

How many people who've had covid might be affected i.e. and who would be wanting to go to a football match? Maybe not enough to prevent others from attending matches?

Any idea how much these tests cost?

Good questions but they are moot. Our level of football won't do tests at the gate, no matter the cost. Who would do them? The old boy who sells the raffle tickets?

 

[Hampden Diehard]

The £3 million given to Scottish football by the Anderson guy ended up going to "community" projects like Celtic's meals on wheels charity rather than to help smaller clubs in need, where it was meant to go. No doubt any further grants would be similarly rediverted. Our game is run by Muppets.

[Dev]

Strange how something as important as a large Fifa grant can go unmentioned by the SFA. Are they waiting for the next Scottish Govt pronouncement on covid (?)Tomorrow before pulling this rabbit out of the hat? You can only hope and sign the petitions which going round. 

[FairWeatherFan]

23 minutes ago, Dev said:

Strange how something as important as a large Fifa grant can go unmentioned by the SFA. Are they waiting for the next Scottish Govt pronouncement on covid (?)Tomorrow before pulling this rabbit out of the hat? You can only hope and sign the petitions which going round. 

Have the English, and Irish FAs made a similar announcement so far?

[Dev]

2 hours ago, FairWeatherFan said:

Have the English, and Irish FAs made a similar announcement so far?

Sorry if I am mis-reading you but whether or not they have made announcements is up to them. Failure to do so isn't justification is it?

[FairWeatherFan]

1 minute ago, Dev said:

Sorry if I am mis-reading you but whether or not they have made announcements is up to them. Failure to do so isn't justification is it?

Because how do you know they've received them? Its a grant, which suggests it has to be applied for and presumably some scope given as to what it will be used for. So there's no way to know what stage the application may be at just now.

[Dev]

1 minute ago, FairWeatherFan said:

Because how do you know they've received them? Its a grant, which suggests it has to be applied for and presumably some scope given as to what it will be used for. So there's no way to know what stage the application may be at just now.

Fifa announced that there were Grants going out to ALL member countries and territories. How Fifa allocates these and how much to each country - no idea.

[FairWeatherFan]

5 minutes ago, Dev said:

Fifa announced that there were Grants going out to ALL member countries and territories. How Fifa allocates these and how much to each country - no idea.

But the FAs still have to apply for them. They don't just transfer money into a bank account and think nothing of it. They have to meet certain requirements and show that the grant will go towards covering issues related to COVID19.

[Dev]

Just checked the FIFA web site. Here is the link. If you go there and then click on FIFA COVID‑19 Relief Plan  :

https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/fifa-council-unanimously-approves-covid-19-relief-plan

FIFA COUNCIL

FIFA Council unanimously approves COVID-19 Relief Plan

25 Jun 2020

FIFA to make a total of USD 1.5 billion available to football

FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan

The Council unanimously approved the FIFA COVID‑19 Relief Plan, which was designed by the FIFA administration in close cooperation with representatives of the confederations. Across its three stages, this global support plan will make available up to USD 1.5 billion to assist the football community.

In the first two stages of the plan, FIFA provided for the immediate release of all Forward operational‑cost payments to member associations and, subsequently, for the opportunity to transform Forward development grants into COVID-19 operational relief funds – with a minimum of 50% of released funds to be allocated to women’s football .

In stage three, approved by the Council today, further financial support will be provided through a system of grants and loans:

D 1 million will be made available to all member associations, and an additional grant of USD 500,000 will be allocated specifically to women’s football. In addition, each confederation will receive a grant of USD 2 million.

o Loans: member associations will be able to apply for interest-free loans amounting to up to 35% of their audited annual revenues. In the interest of solidarity, a minimum loan of USD 500,000 will be available and a maximum of USD 5 million. In addition, each confederation will have access to a loan of up to USD 4 million.

·        Both grants and loans can be directed by member associations to the wider football community in their respective territories, including clubs, players, leagues, or others that have been affected.

o Governance model: to ensure effective oversight of the plan, there will be strict controls on the use of funds, audit requirements, as well as clear loan repayment conditions. A FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan steering committee will also be established to supervise the administration of the scheme.

Olli Rehn, the deputy chairman of the FIFA Governance Committee, has been appointed to lead this committee. He is also the Governor of the Bank of Finland, a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank and a former Vice-President of the European Commission.

As a next step, the principles of the plan will be consolidated in a set of regulations to be put forward to the Bureau of the FIFA Council.

[Andy groundhopper]

Down in England I think both the FA and EPL are doing quite a bit to help out, down to National League level. Read that the £ will cover missing fans based on last season's average home gates, fair I guess. The SFA have to do all they can to make sure that the majority of clubs survive, unless they  know different of course. Waiting to see which club goes to the wall first, won't be too long sadly.

[craigkillie]

On 04/10/2020 at 17:53, Hampden Diehard said:

The £3 million given to Scottish football by the Anderson guy ended up going to "community" projects like Celtic's meals on wheels charity rather than to help smaller clubs in need, where it was meant to go. No doubt any further grants would be similarly rediverted. Our game is run by Muppets.

The James Anderson grants were given to clubs with a specific view to ensuring community benefits, and donations such as those made by Celtic were amongst the uses that Anderson explicitly outlined as being suitable.