FIFA will treble payments to clubs for releasing players for the next two World Cups, it announced yesterday.

Clubs will share $209 million (£140m) at both the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

The amount shared out for the Brazil World Cup last year was $70m (£47m) and South Africa in 2010 had a pot of $40m (£27m).

The European Club Association, which had been demanding compensation for moving the 2022 World Cup to the winter — the final is to be played on December 23, has welcomed the announcement.

Its chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said the clubs will also have a say on the changes to the international calendar to accommodate the 2022 World Cup.

“For the first time, the European clubs will have a direct say on the international match calendar, which was very important to me personally,” he said.

“As a result, the ECA will be actively involved and contribute constructively to the design of the calendar, especially for 2022.

“These payments will benefit clubs from around the world who release World Cup players to their respective national associations.

“From an ECA perspective, this agreement is a great achievement. It marks another milestone for club football as a whole.”

by Our Sports Desk