By David Owen
September 12 – In a further positive step for women’s football, FIFA has announced that it is to double its development funding for this fast-growing arm of the sport over its next four-year cycle, culminating with the World Cup in Russia in 2018. The governing body has earmarked $21 million for this purpose in 2015-18, up from just under $10.3 million in 2011-14.
The figure represents less than 2.5% of FIFA’s overall $900 million development budget for the period. However, the organisation points out that the women’s game also benefits from other FIFA initiatives, such as the Financial Assistance Programme (FAP), Performance and the Goal programme.
The disclosure comes less than three months after FIFA stipulated that at least 15% of a $750,000 bonus promised to all member associations in June by President Joseph Blatter must be used for women’s football. One-third of the bonus was set to be paid out at once, triggering what should have amounted to a near immediate injection of at least $7.8 million into the women’s game.
FIFA’s overall $900 million development budget for 2015-18 is up just 12.5% from the $800 million originally budgeted for 2011-14 – far less than the 55.5% cycle-on-cycle increase in the budget for the World Cup itself and the huge 69% jump for “operational expenses and services”.
FIFA has produced guidelines to help member associations to apply for and benefit from its women’s football development programmes. These focus on four main areas – competitions, management, education and promotion.
Next year is World Cup year for the women’s game, with the tournament set to be held in Canada in June and July.
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