“FIFA Did Not Say It Will Pay Players Directly:” NFF Scribe Debunks Trending Statement, Audio

• The Super Falcons will not be paid by FIFA, according to a member of the Nigeria Football Federation
• The head of the Nigeria Women's Football League, Aisha Falode, has cleared the air over alleged comments by the FIFA secretary-general
• Falode disclosed that FIFA would pay all participating players through their country’s federation

A member of the Nigeria Football Federation and head of the Nigeria Women's Football League, Aisha Falode, has disclosed that FIFA will only pay players through their federations.

Several reports claim that the world’s football governing body announced that the 2023 World Cup prize money will be paid directly to the players without interference from a third party.

Footage shows the moment the secretary-general of FIFA, Fatma Samoura, walked into the Super Falcons’ dressing room shortly after they confirmed their place in the Round of 16 after their draw with the Republic of Ireland.

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Samoura acknowledged that “things have been tough” for the Falcons, who have participated in all the editions of the tournament since it started in 1991.

FIFA had announced that every player participating in the World Cup group stage will earn $30,000, and that the match bonuses will increase to $60,000 in the second round of the competition, The Guardian reports.

But Aisha Falode stated that Samoura did not mention that the money would be paid directly to the players.

She told Sportszone @LagosTalks913:

“Super Falcons has ticked all the boxes in this. They have demonstrated leadership; they have demonstrated consistency by attending all the World Cups since it started in China in 1991.

“She then went further to say that FIFA has now recognised that players who come to the World Cup; players who play in their tournaments should be rewarded, should be complemented with some financial rewards.

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“And that it is the players like you, the Super Falcons of Nigeria, that’s why we introduced the player’s compensation monetary reward.

The presenter probed further:

“I’ll ask you in simple terms, did Samoura say that FIFA will pay the players directly?”

Falode replied:

“FIFA did not say it would pay the players directly; it said working through the member association, working through your federations.

“We are going to pay you this money through the federations, so FIFA will pay the federation, and the federation pays the players. With the instruction, everybody knows, it’s there in black and white.”

Listen below:

South Africa through to knockouts

Sports Brief earlier reported that Thembi Kgatlana was moved to tears as Banyana Banyana produced an extraordinary performance to defeat Italy 3-2 at the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Going into the final group match, South Africa needed a win to progress to the second round, while a draw would have been enough for their Italian counterparts.

But it was Kgatlana who struck the winner in the second minute of stoppage time to give her side a famous victory.