Pinnick writes FIFA over World Cup money

By Taofeek Lawal

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, has written to FIFA to press for the transfer of the Super Eagles World Cup appearance money into the federation’s account. Nigeria was probably the only of all the 32 teams that featured at the World Cup played in Brazil that may have not received its own share of the participation money.

The late remittance was ascribed to crisis at NFF. FIFA will only remit the shares due to any federation for participating in the World Cup only when the demand for such is made by either by the President or Secretary General of the concerned federation.

Pinnick was fully restored as the NFF president last week only after President Gooldluck Jonathan intervened in the crisis that split the federation into two factions, following five months of fighting, to ward off a FIFA hammer.

Chris Giwa and Pinnick were laying claims to the leadership of the federation, following disputed elections held on August 26 and September 30 respectively. FIFA upheld the elections held on September 30 in Warri that led to the emergence of Pinnick as the president.

Officially, what is due to the Nigerian federation is $9 million (about N1.4 billion) as the Super Eagles share of the spoils for berthing the round of 16 at the World Cup, but FIFA will only pay a net of that amount after deducting tax, accommodation, feeding, transport, security and sundry costs rendered to the Nigerian delegation at the World Cup.

Even at that, when NFF receives the money, it is expected that the sum of $3.8million (about N600 million) is expected to be paid back to the Federal Government as the loan advanced to NFF for the payment of the Super Eagles ‘appearance fees’ after the players went on strike in Brasilia on the eve of their round of 16 match against France.