Uefa in line for finals windfall

Times are hard but football’s gravy train rolls on.

Four years ago Uefa’s income from the European Championships reached a staggering €1.3 billion — 50% more than in 2004 and more than five times the previous total. Net profits — after the so-called solidarity payments to Uefa members — reached €250 million.

There will almost certainly be less to salt away in the Swiss bank vaults this time. Prize money this time is €196m, only €12 million more than in 2008. But this time there are other mouths to feed.

After years of complaints about players being injured and returning tired from international duty the clubs will now receive €100 million, to be distributed according to the numbers involved, as part of Uefa’s new policy of conciliating the European Clubs Association, the lobby group headed by Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The payments won’t be of much benefit to most of the ECA’s 201 members. But they provide a nice bonus for the wealthiest — Bayern will receive about €3 million for example — and Uefa’s pot is generous compared to Fifa’s World Cup pay out, which was just €30m in 2010.

All the 16 finalists receive €8m for their three group stage games, win or lose. Every win is worth an extra €1m, a draw €500,000. This time Uefa have introduced a €1m bonus for countries finishing third in their group, a move aimed at encouraging teams to put in an effort even if they are about to return home.

You don’t receive much more for reaching the semi-finals in Europe — an extra €5 million compared to more than €10 million in the last World Cup. But for the champions the maximum payout is €23.5 million, just a little bit less than Spain received for their win in South Africa.

Can the gravy train continue? In 2016 in France there will be 24 finalists, more games and even more TV money. UEFA’s income from that tournament should easily top €2 billion — provided the advertisers don’t go bust.