FIFA President Jani Infantino announced Friday that the federation will pay early this year dues to national federations due to the outbreak of the new Corona virus, stressing that health should be a priority when researching the resumption of matches.

This came in a picture message sent by Infantino to the 211 member national federations, and FIFA published its abstract on its website.

The crisis of "Covid-19" led to a near paralysis in sports life around the world, including football, as most of the local tournaments were suspended, in addition to the postponement of the European Cups and Copa America from the summer of 2020 to 2021, and the qualifying matches and international matches scheduled in June. .

In his message, the Swiss indicated that "the International Federation's Emergency Relief Fund ... thanks to the work we have done together in FIFA over the past four years, we are in a very strong financial position today."
"FIFA has a good reputation at its worst
Financial s ... This has helped us consolidate solid foundations with substantial reserves. But our reserves are not FIFA's money. Football money. So when football is in need, we must think about what we can do to help ... It is our responsibility and duty. "

FIFA indicated that within the framework of the "Forward" program, and subject to the approval of the relevant committee, "the second payment due from the operating costs of the national federations, scheduled later this year, will be paid in advance."

Infantino launched this program in 2016, the year in which he took over the presidency of FIFA, and he notices aid to all national federations totaling about $ 1.6 billion between 2019 and 2022, as part of a program to develop the game in various countries of the world.

FIFA President stated that in light of the exceptional circumstances, he requested exemption from the need to achieve the additional criteria required for 2019 and 2020 (to benefit from the program), in order to pay the full amount to all unions.

Waiting is better than taking a risk.

In his letter, Infantino identified three priorities to support football during the crisis triggered by the "Covid-19" epidemic, stressing that health comes first.

He stressed that "Our priority, our principle, the principle that we will use in our competitions and encourage everyone to follow it is for health to come in the first place (...) I cannot stress this enough. No match, no competition, no league worth the risk of human life." one".

And press reports had indicated that the German League could resume without a mass presence in May, after the players had already returned to training, while other tournaments may also resume their activities in the summer.

"It would be irresponsible to force the competitions to appeal if things are not 100 percent safe (...) If we have to wait a little more then we must do," Infantino said.
"It is better for us to wait for a longer period of risk."

Infantino thanked the federations that are working on passing important health messages and participating in their societies during this period, saying that "this is what football and teamwork mean, we must continue in this manner."

"If football succeeds in having a discussion in which everyone contributes positively and keeps in mind the global concern of the individual, I am completely convinced that our future may be better than it was in our past, and we will be better prepared in future times."

He stressed the need to find the right balance to protect national teams and clubs with regard to the calendar of international matches, and to adopt flexibility in relation to player contracts and to amend the transfer period from a legal perspective.

FIFA has previously recommended that clubs reach agreements with players on salary cuts in the current period, and called for their contracts to be extended beyond June 30 if the 2019-2020 season is not yet over.

Infantino was convinced, "Football will play a major role in reuniting people when it is safe to play again and sit with our friends and families in large groups. Let's prepare for that moment ... FIFA is with you in these difficult times, and together, we will win!"