BY REY C. LACHICA
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will have little problem helping its personnel and players in dire need of financial support due to extended enhanced community quarantine as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.
That’s because the PFF, headed by former Iloilo standout Nonong Araneta, stands to receive $500,000 (roughly P25 million) from its global governing body – the International Football Federation (FIFA).
The $500,000 is part of FIFA’s $150,000 aid to its member associations to help handle their daily operation and extend help to its players and staff.
The operation funding for 2019 and 2020, according to FIFA, will be distributed among its 211 member association in the next few days.
“It’s the first step of a relief plan to assist the football community impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“It is FIFA’s duty to be there and support the ones that are facing acute needs,” added Infantino. “This starts by providing immediate financial assistance to our member associations, many of which are experiencing severe financial distress.”
The funds come from the Forward 2.0 program, which was launched in 2016 and will provide $1.746 billion in total over the 2019-2022 period.
FIFA is perhaps the richest international federation among mother federations in the Olympic family – thanks to the crowd-drawing Word Cup and other top-tier events in Europe and Middle East.
Last month FIFA announced the creation of a football aid fund but it has since not given any additional details on its operation or scope. (With a report from AFP)