FIFA has come under criticism for failing to pay the final instalment of funds owed to hundreds of players across Europe whose contracts were not honoured by their clubs.According to sources, while some payments were made, the final portion, due in September 2023, remains outstanding.The unpaid sums, which total £3.09 million and affect 420 players, were meant to come from FIFA's Fund for Players, a program established in 2020 to assist footballers who are left without compensation after their clubs fail to meet contractual obligations.Many of these players are either unemployed or retired, making the funds crucial to their financial stability.BBC Sport has obtained an email from a national players' union, listing more than 30 players facing financial hardship and urging FIFA to release the overdue payments.
The email highlights the distress these unpaid sums are causing for affected players.This issue arises as FIFA is already in dispute with global players' union FIFPRO over the increasingly congested match calendar, with FIFPRO and the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) raising concerns about the physical toll on elite players.
The expansion of the Club World Cup to 32 teams next summer is a particular point of contention.FIFA has yet to comment on the matter.