Fifa increases funding to associations
Fifa member associations, including Football Association of Malawi (FAM), will receive more funds from the world football governing body from next year following a decision by Fifa Council to approve a newly-revised football development funding for the 2019-2022 cycle.
Fifa last Friday increased the funding by $1 million (K733 million) from $5 million (about K3.7 billion) to $6 million (about K4.4 billion).
The 211 members get the grants under the Fifa Forward Development Programme over a period of four years.
Fifa conditions allow the FAs to use up to $1 million per year for their running and operational costs that include governance, administration, the national teams, domestic competitions, permanent administrative and technical staff, financial management (audits), website and other communication platforms.
Half of the funds ($500 000), will only be allocated if the member association implements or provides at least eight of the 10 essential elements, which include employing a secretary-general and a technical director, organising juniors, women or men’s leagues, has a clear strategy for the promotion and development of women’s and grassroots football, promotion and development of refereeing, if the member runs an initiative or project related to integrity or good governance.
Reacting to the development, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu, who is also a Fifa Council member, said the increase is commendable and necessary to cope with the rising demand for administrative and technical activities.
“Some of the funding is also directed towards infrastructure projects that have been earmarked in the new 2019-23 cycle. It just demonstrates the desire that the [Gianni] Infantino administration has to transform the game of football around the world.
“FAM is one of the FAs that is compliant to the new provision from the structural and governance point of view. So, we stand to immediately benefit from the increase in funding,” he said.
Each of the six confederations, including Confederation of African Football (CAF), will be entitled to a yearly contribution of $12 million (about K8.8 billion) to support football activities and projects.
Part of that money, up to $1 million (K733 million), will be distributed to the regional (zonal) bodies like Cecafa, Wafu and Cosafa to organise men’s, women’s and youth football tournaments.
In a bid to ensure strict adherence to the regulations on how to use the funds and for accountability purposes, Fifa has directed that “each member association or confederation will have to engage the services of a statutory auditor and will be subject to a central audit review undertaken by an independent, high-profile, international auditing company”.
