31 English clubs have received nearly $10m in total benefits from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, reports www.fcbusiness.co.uk. Chelsea are the biggest beneficiates receiving more than $1.2m, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City each receiving over $1m.
But it wasn't just the big four that received the cash benefit - based on the number of players released to play in the tournament last summer. Doncaster Rovers ($7,000), Sheffield Wednesday ($6,533) and Ipswich Town ($6,300) all received money for releasing players.
The 31 clubs make up the 396 clubs affiliated to 57 different National Associations from around the globe that will receive a share of the benefits from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Similar to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and as part of an agreement between the European Club Association (ECA) and FIFA signed in 2008, FIFA allocates an amount from the benefits of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil to clubs in order to recognise the important part they play in the success of the tournament.
The agreed provisions set aside were $40m for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa and $70m for this year's event in Brazil. The payments are distributed via the National Associations to the clubs of the 736 players who participated in the final competition.
A club's share of the $70m is calculated by reference to the number of players from a club who were selected for their national team for the FIFA World Cup 2014 and the number of days each player was at the tournament.
Of the 396 clubs benefiting from such payments, 240 clubs are registered with a European National Association. The total list of clubs also include clubs that are not playing in their domestic top division and clubs from National Associations whose national team did not participate in the final competition.
A similar agreement exists with UEFA for the EURO tournaments. For the UEFA EURO 2012 in Poland/Ukraine, UEFA made available 100m (575 clubs benefited). For the UEFA EURO 2016 in France, the available amount for distribution is set at 150m.
