Brighton & Hove Albion have been handed a tidy financial bonus by FIFA for having their players selected to compete at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
More than $209 million (£171.6m) was set aside by FIFA as part of its Club Benefit Payments Programme. This resulted in club teams across the world earning money while their players, or players who have been recently contracted to them, are at the FIFA World Cup.
The compensation package worked out at just under $10,000 (£9,000) per day, per player, from the preparation period on November 10 until the day after the country plays its final match at the tournament.
Clubs could apply to FIFA to be paid $180,000, rising to $220,000 for the round of 16, $280,000 for the quarter-finals, $320,000 for the semis and $370,000 for the final and third-place play-off.
Here’s how much money Brighton will receive from FIFA’s Club Benefit Payments Programme in comparison to their Premier League rivals
The payment for each player at Qatar was split three ways, between the club that held the player’s registration in 2020-21, the club that paid the player in 2021-22, and the club who employs the player this season.
The payment scheme has run since the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Here’s how much money Brighton received from FIFA’s Club Benefit Payments Programme in comparison to their Premier League rivals.
AFC Bournemouth is the Premier League club that received the least amount of money from FIFA. Just two Cherries featured in Qatar - Chris Mepham and Kieffer Moore for Wales - and both exited the competition at the group stage. Bournemouth earned $180,000 for Mepham's World Cup participation, but only received half that amount for Moore. Half of the striker's fee went to former club Cardiff City, having only moved to Dorset in January.
Like Bournemouth, Southampton saw two of their stars go to Qatar - and both departed in the group stages. The Saints got $180,000 for Ghana defender Mohammed Salisu's participation, but only received $60,000 for Armel Bella-Kotchap stint at the World Cup with Germany. The defender's former club VfL Bochum received two-thirds of the fee as the German outfit held his rights in 2020-21 and 2021-22. Southampton also received nominal fees for ex-players Jan Bednarek (Poland) and Takumi Minamino (Japan) after their respective runs to the last 16
Nottingham Forest had six players at the World Cup - though four of those departed at the group stage. Welsh triumvirate Wayne Hennesey, Neco Williams and Brennan Johnson made Forest $300,000 despite exiting the tournament early. Midfielders Cheikhou Kouyaté and Remo Freuler reached the last 16 with Senegal and Switzerland respectively, meaning Forest received a further $150,000. The Midlands club received a nominal fee for Richie Laryea's participation at the World Cup with Canada. Laryea joined Forest in January but went back on loan to Toronto FC
Leeds had three players at the World Cup - but made most of their money from former players. The Yorkshire club received limited compensation for Danish defender Rasmus Kristensen and American duo Tyler Adams and Brendan Aaronson's participation in Qatar. The trio moved to Elland Road in the summer, meaning the Whites received just $60,000 for Kristensen - after Denmark's group stage exit - and $70,000 each for Adams and Aaronson's run to the last 16. However, Leeds got two-thirds of the $280,000 owed to Manchester City for former midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Brazil's Raphinha, who moved to FC Barcelona in the summer, earned the Whites $180,000. Dan James, who is on loan at Fulham, netted Leeds $60,000 after his group stage exit with Wales.
Crystal Palace had two players picked for the World Cup but, like Leeds, they made more money from ex-stars. Palace received $180,000 after Jordan Ayew's group stage exit with Ghana. Palace will receive only two-thirds of Danish defender Joachim Andersen's fee. He too departed in the groups. Ex-Eagles Wayne Hennessey and Cheikhou Kouyaté, both now at Nottingham Forest, made Palace $60,000 and $150,000 respectively. England midfielder Conor Gallagher, who starred on loan at Selhurst Park last season, netted Palace $90,000 while Belgium's Michy Batshuayi, who played for Palace in 2020-21, made Patrick Vieira's club $60,000.
Four Everton stars went to Qatar. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's run to the last eight netted the Toffees $280,000. Everton received one-third of that sum for on-loan Wolves defender Conor Coady. The Toffees also received one-third of the compensation due for summer signings Amadou Onana (Belgium) and Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal). Everton pocketed two-thirds of the fee owed for Brazil forward Richarlison, who moved to Tottenham in the summer.
